Rahul Gandhi Attacks PM Modi’s Economic Policies At Rajasthan Rally

Congress President Rahul Gandhi today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his economic and agricultural polices, saying not a single rupee of farmers' loan has been waived by the government.

At a rally in poll-bound Rajasthan's Dholpur district, the Congress leader said that the Make-In-India campaign had failed as phones and t-shirts were still being outsourced from China.

Gandhi said his party "wants phones to be made in India and have a tag of made in Dholpur”.

Beginning his 150-km long road show in eastern Rajasthan from Mania in Dholpur district, which shares borders with Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi attacked the government on a range of issues ranging from the Rafale deal, law and order situation to demonetisation. Rajasthan is scheduled to go to polls in December.

Gandhi said the prime minister during the 2014 Lok Sabha election had said he wanted to be a “chowkidar (gatekeeper)”, but never clarified for whom.

He alleged that Modi had helped the top 15-20 industrialists of the country benefit instead of farmers.

Raising the Rafale deal issue, the Congress president reiterated his allegation that Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd. was ignored and the Prime minister's industrialist friend had benefited from the deal which was finalised with higher prices as compared to rates decided by the former UPA government. Gandhi added that Modi had not spoken a single word when Rafale matter was raised.

Naming industrialists Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Lalit Modi and Anil Ambani, he alleged that the prime minister benefited them and did not take care of farmers, youths etc.

"Former UPA government gave MGNREGA, brought tribal bill, gave rights of food and information, meal to students in schools, waived off farmers' loan worth Rs. 70,000 crore. In Rajasthan, the Ashok Gehlot government introduced free medicine schemes but what Narendra Modi government and Vasundhara Raje government did for the poor?” he asked.

Gandhi added that the UPA had taken a decision within ten days to waive off farmers' loans worth Rs. 70,000 crore but debt worth Rs. 3.5 lakh crore was written off by the Modi government in a span of four years. “He did not waive a single penny of farmers. I went to the prime minster's office only once and that too to raise farmers' issue but the PM remained silent and did not speak a single word,” he said.

The Congress president claimed that demonetisation and GST decisions destroyed the economy.

Referring to law and order issues, Gandhi said, "Modiji gave a slogan of Beti Bachao, Beti Padao. But when a BJP MLA rapes a woman in Uttar Pradesh, both the prime minister and the chief minister try to save him.”

Targeting Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, the Congress president alleged that Lalit Modi gave money directly to Raje's son. However, he did not specify when and why Lalit Modi allegedly paid Raje's son Dushyant Singh.

He exuded confidence that the Congress would return to power in Rajasthan and said it would be a government for the poor, small and medium businessmen and youths.

Speaking about attack on migrants in Gujarat, he said youths from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are being attacked and forced to leave. Youth trusted Modi but Modi betrayed their trust, he said at the rally.

The Congress president said that the government had failed and urged people to form a Congress government at the Centre which would work for the poor, farmers and youths of the country.

He said it would be a people's government in Rajasthan. The doors of chief ministers, ministers and MLAs would always remain open for people. He gave an assurance that Congress ministers would be accessible to everyone.

He said that people should try making RSS and BJP understand that there is no benefit in "dividing" the country. “Country wants to be united and move along together,” he added.

Congress party's state chief Sachin Pilot targeted Raje, saying she announced free electricity to farmers half an hour before the model code of conduct came in force but where was she for over four and a half years.

AICC general secretary and former CM Ashok Gehlot and other leaders were present at the rally.

After the rally, Gandhi began his road show in a bus with party leaders. He will travel for nearly 150 km during the road show in Dholpur, Bharatpur and Dausa districts.