The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, accusing him of being indifferent to the hardships of farmers and the poor while framing policies that benefit his “billionaire” friends. Speaking at a rally in Panipat, Haryana, she also addressed issues such as the “Agniveer” scheme and the treatment of female wrestlers.
Gandhi pledged that once the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) forms its government at the Centre, farmers will receive a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops, and their debts will be waived. “One thing that has become clear in 10 years is that Modiji does not understand the pain of farmers, the poor, middle class, women, and youngsters,” she said.
Addressing the rally in Panipat, part of the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency, where Haryana Youth Congress president Divyanshu Budhiraja is contesting against BJP’s former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Gandhi stated that the Modi government does not care about the farming community. “Kisano ko peesne do, gareebi ke daldal mein rehne do’ (let the farmers suffer in poverty),” she remarked, alleging that the Centre waived debts worth Rs 16 lakh crore of Modi’s “kharabpati” (billionaire) friends.
Gandhi criticized the BJP-led Centre over the Agnipath scheme for short-term military recruitment, accusing Modi of rendering those recruited under the scheme unemployed after four years. She also noted that no martyr’s status is given under the scheme, which she claimed has shattered the dreams of those aspiring to join the defense services.
“Unemployment is at its peak, and Modiji brings a scheme like Agnipath. Today, 70 crore youngsters are unemployed in the country,” Gandhi claimed. She also alleged that resources like ports, airports, and sectors like coal and power have been handed over to the prime minister’s “billionaire” friends.
Addressing the issue of female wrestlers, Gandhi condemned the treatment of those who opposed former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP leader. She reminded the audience of how protesting farmers were treated at Delhi’s borders, noting that more than 600 farmers lost their lives. She also mentioned how a minister’s son in Uttar Pradesh “ran his car over the protesting farmers, killing four of them,” and noted that the same minister has been fielded in the polls again by the BJP.
Gandhi accused the BJP of wanting to change the Constitution and claimed that demonetization and the introduction of a “flawed” Goods and Services Tax (GST) have destroyed small and medium industries. “BJP leaders have become so arrogant that they are now planning to change the Constitution, but no power on earth can change it,” she asserted.
Outlining the guarantees given by the Congress in its manifesto, Gandhi promised that every poor family in the country would receive Rs 8,500 every month in the bank account of one of its women members if the INDIA opposition bloc forms its government at the Centre. She cited Karnataka as an example where women are already receiving Rs 2,000 every month.
In Sirsa, Gandhi led a roadshow to support Congress nominee Kumari Selja for the May 25 Lok Sabha polls in Haryana. She criticized the BJP government over “unemployment, corruption, and inflation,” asserting that there is a strong wave in favor of the Congress in Haryana. “The state has the highest unemployment rate in the country, the price of which is being paid by the youngsters here,” she said.
Gandhi confidently stated that the Congress would win all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana with huge margins. She was accompanied by Selja, a prominent Dalit face of the Congress in Haryana, who is contesting against BJP’s Ashok Tanwar. Gandhi’s roadshow lasted for about an hour, marking her first event in Haryana this election season.