Indian National Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a chowkidar of big industrialists, including Ambanis and Adani, and so he has decided to guard the interests of farmers of the nation.
Addressing an election rally in Vajipura in Valod area of Tapi district and Bardoli LS constituency in Gujarat, which will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, Mr Gandhi alleged that PM Modi, who called himself a chowkidar, had during demonetisation scrapped Rs 500 and 1,000 notes and issued a bigger denomination Rs 2,000 note to facilitate the Ambanis and Adani convert their black money to white.
”He scrapped the Rs 500 and 1,000 notes all of a sudden and brought a bigger Rs 2,000 pink note. He said to the commoners there was some problem pls bear with me. Ambanis and Adani can’t change their black money so I have to scrap these notes to bring a bigger one,” averred Gandhi.
PM Modi was, Gandhi added, not a chowkidar of poor people, farmers and the likes who did not actually need one.
Two Indias
The Congress president alleged that the Premier himself indulged in corruption and helping 10 to 15 big industrialists, including Adani and Ambanis. ”He was also trying to create two Indias-one for his rich friends and the other for poor.”
Mr Modi, the Opposition leader said, made false promise about putting Rs 15 lakh in every one’s account and repeatedly lied. But, Gandhi asserted, he would speak the truth and guaranteed that the Nyay scheme would be implemented soon after Congress was voted to power at the Centre.”The Rs 72,000 minimum income guarantee scheme is a deadly blow on poverty, a surgical strike against it. We will end the poverty from India,” Mr Gandhi said.
In 2014, people, Gandhi said, had reposed faith in Narendra Modi with the belief that he would do something and bring good days. Gujarat had also shown full faith and given all the 26 seats to him. Modi had made three big promises; giving jobs to 2 crore youths every year, bringing Rs 15 lakh in the account of everybody and better prices to the farmers for their crops.
”Though the promise to put Rs 15 lakh in everyone’s account proved to be a lie I had asked the think-tank of Congress as to how much money can actually be transferred to the 5 crore poorest families in the country.They replied that Rs 72,000 can be given to each of these families. And it will not harm the economy and the system the way the demonetisation and Gabbar Singh Tax (GST) of Modi regime had done. Modi’s 15 lakh was a lie but my promise is a truth.When people lost their money due to demonetisation and GST they stopped buying goods which resulted in to closure of small businesses and factories in the country and today we have highest unemployment of last 45 years. This is mainly due to demonetisation and GST. But under the NYAY scheme when money will be transferred to the account of poor families who earn less than 12000/- a month, they would start purchasing things and the small businesses and factories would flourish again and our people would get jobs in them in turn,’ he said.
Crony capitalism
”Modi ji asks from where the money will come.He had asked similar questions when we promised about the farmers loan waiver and whenever we talk about any scheme for the poor. He has given Rs 35,000 crore to Ambani in Rafale deal and six airports and lands to Adani. Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya have all fled with our money. Modi government has waived Rs 3.50 lakh crores of loans of the 10 to 15 big corporates including Ambani and Adani but has not waived the loan of farmers,” the Congress chief said.
Gandhi also alleged that a scam in kerosene and other subsidy of a bigger tune was also committed by the state’s BJP government and Modi regime at the Centre.
”Congress as per its promise waived the loans of farmers in MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan within two days after winning the election. We have also done it in Karnataka and Punjab. We would have done so in Gujarat also had we not lost with a thin margin in the assembly election last year,” he said.
The Congress leader alleged that big industrialists, including Anil Ambani, were benefited from the crop insurance scheme. ”Modi ji has given the crop insurance business to 10-15 industrialists. Anil Ambani has got it for Jammu and Kashmir. Farmers who pay the premium do not get the benefit,” Mr Gandhi alleged.
He said that after being voted to power, the Congress government would start a separate budget for farmers which would let them know the Minimum Support Price for various crops well in advance. The government would also ensure that no farmer was jailed for failure of loan repayment.
”Billionaires like Anil Ambani, Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi, Vijay Malya are not in jail despite huge loan defaults and some them were enjoying in London but small farmers were jailed due to defaults of small loans of Rs 20,000. Modi ji should also jail Anil Ambani whom like Choksi, Nirav Modi he calls bhai. This is injustice to farmers. Either both or none should be jailed. I assure that they will be jailed if Congress is voted to power. Modi ji is trying to make two Indias; one, a shining one for 15 to 20 of the industrialists close to him for whom all the facilities were easily available while the other in which common people cough up lakhs of rupees for education of children and basic health facilities.But we won’t let this two India thing happen. There is one flag and there should be one country,” he said.
Mr Gandhi also dwelt on the Rafale controversy and attacked PM Modi. He alleged that Mr Modi himself negotiated and got the deal given to Anil Ambani.
Taking another dig at the PM, Gandhi said that he won’t make false promises like Modi. ”I can’t promise Rs 15 lakh to each one’s bank accounts as it would ruin the economy but I would put as much as would not do any harm. I can’t talk about giving 2 crore jobs but would certainly give the 22 lakh government jobs lying vacant and 10 lakh jobs in Panchayats were also possible. The farmers can be assisted and their loans can be waived. On the one side, there was injustice and falsity while on our side was truth and justice,’Gandhi said, appealing to the people to vote for Congress. (UNI)
On campaign trail in Guj, Raga asserts PM is chowkidar of Ambanis-Adani, neglected farmers
