As the Rajasthan assembly poll date of November 25 nears, Congress’ Rahul Gandhi joined the campaign trail along with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and party leader Sachin Pilot. Speaking at a rally in Churu, Rahul accused the BJP-led Modi government of promoting Adani and big businessmen and alleged that demonetisation had finished all small businessmen.
He said, “If a BJP government is formed then it will stop schemes being run by the Congress be it the (old) pension scheme, health (insurance scheme), subsidised cylinders or Rs 10,000 annual assistance for women and it will again help the billionaires…Instead, if the Congress is voted back to power in the state, the poor, farmers and small traders will benefit.”
“Narendra Modi implemented GST. For the first time in India, farmers have to pay taxes. He did demonetisation and finished all small businessmen. Wherever you look, Adani is doing some or the other business; airports, ports, cement plants, and roads are all his. So, he works for the rich. He helps Adani; Adani earns money, and that money is used abroad. Foreign companies are purchased,” said Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally in Churu, Rajasthan.
“PM Narendra Modi travels in an aeroplane worth Rs 12,000 crore and a car worth Rs 12 crore. In the last 10 years, have you seen PM Modi with any farmer labourer or small shopkeeper? You won’t see him. You will see him travelling to the USA in an aeroplane and meeting the US President. You will see his picture with Adani, but not with poor farmers, unemployed youth” the former Congress president further said.
The Congress leader claimed that unlike the BJP he and his party always fulfilled their commitments to the people
“ Whatever money there is the BJP has given to the likes of Adani. That money is what I want to give to the people of India, into the pockets of the poor. I am not Narendra Modi, I do not lie or make false promises. What I promise I make sure that is done” Rahul Gandhi said.
Lauding the Congress government of Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi said, “The state government has worked for you a lot. Remember one thing: if the BJP government is formed here, whatever we did–be it a pension scheme, a health scheme, a Rs 500 gas cylinder, or Rs 10,000 for women–will all be scrapped by them and they will once again start helping billionaires. If you vote for Congress, the poor, farmers, and small businessmen will benefit. Here, we run a government of the poor; we protect you.”
Gandhi said, “Farmers’ loans will be waived off. They will be helped, and small traders will benefit. This is for you to decide. Do you want Adani’s government or do you want the government of farmers, labourers, youth?” He also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “guarantees”. “Modi’s guarantee means a guarantee for Adani whereas the Congress means a government of farmers, labourers, and youths. This is the difference. You have to decide,” he told the gathering.
He said the Congress transfers money into the pockets of the poor whereas the BJP puts it in the pockets of Adani. He alleged the BJP helps Adani who uses it to buy companies abroad whereas the Congress transfers money into the pockets of farmers.
Amid frenzied speculation of infighting among Congress members in Rajasthan, party leader Rahul Gandhi was seen with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress leader Sachin Pilot in Jaipur, saying that “we are not only seen together but we are also united.”