Modi, Rahul address rallies and claim to form the next government at the Centre

Samikhsya Bureau

On Wednesday both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi claimed that they would form the government at the Centre after 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking at a rally at Solapur in Maharashtra, Modi expressed his confidence about the Bharatiya Janata Party winning the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. On the other hand, Gandhi lashed out at Modi on various issues including contentious Rafale fighter jet deal while kicking off the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan.

While launching the Solapur-Osmanabad section of NH-211, underground sewerage system and three sewerage plants in Solapur, Modi said that the 10 per cent quota for economically weaker people would be a major step towards social justice. He hoped the bill on quota for general category poor in jobs and education would be passed in the Rajya Sabha.

He also said that poor people in the country would get their owned houses soon as the BJP government was committed to provide justice to poor and downtrodden people who were deprived of any facility by the previous UPA government at the Centre.

On his maiden visit to Rajasthan after the assembly polls held in last month, in which the Congress defeated the BJP, Gandhi tried to touch a chord with the farmers. Hailing the farmers’ community across Rajasthan, he said at a rally in Jaipur: “When we form the government in Centre in 2019, we will waive farm loans across the country. This is a first step to provide relief to the farmers but this is not the final solution.”

Gandhi said the ‘Green Revolution’ had provided food to the nation and a new green revolution was necessary in the country. “Congress will address this issue. We will start food processing units near farms. Mega food parks will be set up and connect with the world. We will work with full spirit,” the Congress president said.

Referring to the Congress victory in three states, Gandhi said the farmers have shown their strength to Modi and added that the Modi government too will waiving off farmers’ loans, because of the fear that the Congress will come to power and waive the loans.

The Congress president said youth of the country were tired of Modi and added that with demonetisation he wrecked small businesses. “He waived off loans of India’s richest, but how many young entrepreneurs received financial support from the Modi government?” Gandhi said.

“We will not disrespect Prime Minister. But if Modi has given Rs 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani in the Rafale deal, there should be a JPC enquiry,” Gandhi said.

(With UNI input)