Congress president, Rahul Gandhi today announced the introduction of minimum income guarantee scheme if Congress party is elected to power.
Addressing a mammoth gathering and launching the Congress campaign to retain the two Congress seats in Manipur at Hapta Kangjeibung, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress party has taken a revolutionary decision to introduce the scheme so that those having low income will be supported by providing money directly in their bank accounts.
He further said the Narendra Modi government has removed the special status given to the Northeast and industrial policy and both policies will be restored. The Look East Policy, which was changed to Act East Policy by the Modi government, has been ignored and the time has come to make Manipur and other north eastern states centres for job creation and bridge between Asia and India. It is the destiny of Manipur and other north eastern states he said.
The Congress party will not allow the BJP and RSS to impose their ideologies on the people of the north east and the party will not allow Nagpur to decide the fate of the people of the region and destroy the culture, history and language he added. Congress workers should fight the ideological war which is going on. The imposition of the vision of BJP and RSS should be opposed and people enabled to celebrate their own history and culture he said.
The Congress party understands that every state is unique and it will help in fighting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi whom he referred to “Messenger of hatred” for dividing people and hurting people’s sentiments.
He further said the Congress did not allow the government to introduce the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Rajya Sabha. Congress will never allow the Bill become an Act he said amid chants of ” Rahul Gandhi Next Prime Minister of India “.
The greatest challenge is job creation as the latest data reveal that 30,000 jobs were lost every day last year even though Prime Minister Modi announced creation of two lakh crore jobs every year. It is the scale of incompetence of the Prime Minister, he said.
The education system has been weakened as the qualification to become a vice-chancellor has been changed and only someone who wears a half pant and wields a stick and spread message of hatred was appointed. It happened in Manipur and he congratulated the students for fighting for over four months even though teachers and students were sent to jail.
Gandhi said the Prime Minister is very good in publicity and the PM office looks like publicity office. He also alleged that the PM acts without consulting people and experts as he announced demonetisation. He said demonetisation and GST destroyed small scale industries. While the rich and the few for whom the PM is acting as “Chowkidar” were not in the queue only the people were seen in the queue. The GST should be simplified and taxes reduced. It has been used as a tool to extract money from the poor and feed the few persons favoured by the PM, he said.
He said for the first time the Supreme court judges had to come to the people seeking help as they were not allowed to function. He said the Modi government promised assistance to farmers but they were not assisted at all. He appealed to the people to fight the two India theory, one for the rich like Modi and Anil Ambani and another for the poor. He said the Congress will work only for One India where the government will help the poor.
Gandhi who arrived here on Tuesday first offered tribute to the memorial to pay respect to the martyrs who died in the Anglo Manipur War of 1891. He also visited the iconic women’s market, Khwairamband Keithel, which is owned and managed exclusively by women.
He also addressed Congress leaders and later today morning interacted with students at MFDC hall. Students from Manipur University, colleges, medical colleges interacted with Rahul Gandhi. Then he went straight to address the public gathering. Congress leaders, Ibobi, Gaikhangam and others presented him the ceremonial head gear. Massive security arrangements were made for the visit and over 50 SPGs had been camping in the state prior to his visit. Hundreds of policemen were stationed in the places where he visited.
Congress will be trying to retain the two seats while the BJP which is in power will be trying to snatch the two seats. All eyes are on the two political parties and the formal announcement of the candidates is expected soon. The notification for Outer Manipur PC which has 28 Assembly constituencies and the notification for Inner Manipur which has 32 constituencies had been issued. Manipur will go to polls on April 11 and 18.
