Claiming that in the last 10 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had apparently run the government for the sake of a few select billionaires, Congressman Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that the present Indian government was not run by Mr. Modi but industrialist Gautam Adani.
He further promised that the Agniveer scheme would be scrapped and farmers’ loans waived off as soon as the Congress comes to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Addressing his first poll campaign rally in Maharashtra’s Bhandara district, Mr. Gandhi said that “everything was being done for the benefit of one billionaire”.
“This has happened with ports and infrastructure. All benefit only accrued to one man. him Solar power is his, wind power companies are his. In India, there are 22 businessmen whose wealth is equivalent to that of 70 crore - 50% of our countrymen. For 24 hours, Narendra Modi speaks only about religion and sets one community against the other. He never talks about unemployment or farmers issues. In the last 10 years, Mr. Modi has run the government for a few select billionaires notably Gautam Adani. This is not Modi’s government but Adani’s government. Everything is done for one billionaire,” he said.
Mr. Gandhi was campaigning for Prashant Padole, the opposition MVA’s candidate for the Bhandara-Gondiya seat which goes to polls in the first phase on April 19.
He further claimed that for 24 hours, Narendra Modi only spoke about religion and pitched one community against the other.
“The PM is found underwater doing puja without priests. Then, suddenly, he will be spotted in the sky. You can see only three things on TVs these days: Bollywood stars dancing, cricketers and PM Modi,” Mr. Gandhi quipped.
Asserting that the Modi-ruled BJP was not government of OBCs Dalits and Adivasis, Mr. Gandhi hit out at the media as well, urging them to take out a list of India’s senior management in media houses.
“You will not find a single OBC, Adivasi or poor journalist at the higher echelons of media. The media never said a single word when country’s President was not allowed for the inauguration of the Ram Temple. Why? Just because she was an Adivasi? But all industrialists be it Ambani and Adani, were there, as were Bollywood starts and cricketers,” he said.
Mr. Gandhi reiterated the Congress’ commitment to carry out the caste census once it came to power.
He further stressed that the Congress’ manifesto was not made in closed doors but by speaking to thousands of people, including farmers and labourers.
“This is not Congress’ manifesto but that of the people’s. We have written the people’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ in this manifesto,” Mr. Gandhi said.
