Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused it of prioritizing the interests of a few wealthy individuals over the needs of farmers and ordinary citizens. In a powerful speech at Nahan in Sirmaur district while addressing rally in favour of Congress candidate from Shimla Vinod Sultanpuri, minced no words to accuse the Prime Minister of waiving off Rs 16 trillion in loans for 22 billionaires over the past decade while neglecting the needs of farmers and failing to provide Rs 9,000 crore in disaster relief to Himachal Pradesh after the monsoon floods.
“While Modi is busy helping his millionaire friends, he has ignored the plight of farmers and ordinary citizens,” said Rahul Gandhi, while also criticizing the media for focusing on trivial matters such as Anant Ambani's wedding instead of pressing issues like the farmers’ distress, accusing it of being complicit in the BJP's agenda.
He lambasted the BJP Government for its economic policies, particularly demonetization and the flawed implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). “These policies have crippled small businesses and led to widespread unemployment,” he said, accusing Modi of favouring businessman Gautam Adani as “he controls crucial sectors like apple storage facilities in Himachal, leading to unfair pricing that harms local farmers”.
“The Prime Minister is working for the benefit of 20-25 individuals, not for the common people,” he said, adding that Modi has given Adani control over seven airports and the arms manufacturing industry.
Outlining the Congress party's vision, Rahul Gandhi promised a series of pro-farmer and pro-poor measures. “If Congress comes to power, each poor woman will receive Rs one lakh annually in her account. Farmers will be guaranteed a minimum support price (MSP) by law. Additionally, the Congress promises to provide three million government jobs and increase Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) wages to Rs 400 per day,” he said.
“Graduates will be assured their first job in government companies and institutions under the ‘Pehli Naukri Pakki Adhikar’ program. Along with waiving farmers’ debts, the income of Anganwadi and ASHA workers will be doubled…These are not free gifts but rights that will be granted if Congress forms the government,” he added.
Accusing the BJP of attempting to undermine the democratic process by buying votes and legislators, he said: “The BJP is trying to seize power through corruption and money, not through genuine public support.”
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, echoing these sentiments, urged the voters to reject the BJP’s tactics and support Congress candidates. Sukhu highlighted the Congress Government's achievements in implementing the old pension scheme, providing pensions for women, and supporting orphans.
Rahul Gandhi also emphasized the importance of protecting the Constitution, which he claimed is under attack by the BJP. “The Constitution is not just a book; it represents India's ancient wisdom and the voice of the nation,” he said, urging the Congress workers to defend it against BJP's alleged assaults. He stressed that the Congress party stands for honesty, truth, and righteousness, which he believes will ultimately prevail. "The Constitution is the voice of India, which the BJP is attacking," he said, adding that Congress workers will fight against these attacks.
The Congress leader also highlighted his and his sister Priyanka's connection to Himachal, describing themselves as “foot soldiers” of the people who would amplify their voices in Delhi. He appealed to voters to support all four Congress candidates in the state's Lok Sabha constituencies — Mandi, Shimla, Hamirpur, and Kangra — and the six assembly seats going to bypolls. “My sister lives here in Shimla and Rahul and Priyanka are your soldiers in Delhi,” he asserted.
Rahul Gandhi also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not assisting when a natural disaster struck Himachal Pradesh, affecting 22,000 families. “The Central Government is yet to provide several crores of rupees in disaster relief,” he added.
Congress leader, addressing a rally in favour of Congress’ Hamirpur Lok Sabha candidate Satpal Raizada in Una, also claimed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi “openly announced” during his rallies that he would topple the Himachal Pradesh government through “corruption and use of money”. His claims came days after Modi, during his rally in Mandi on Friday, had claimed that the state's Congress government would not last.
Rahul Gandhi also accused Modi of increasing unemployment by helping “people like Adani”, finishing small and medium businesses, through demonetization and implementation of the GST.
Addressing a gathering in Una — known as the heartland for army jawans, Rahul Gandhi said that the country does not want two kinds of soldiers and scrapping the Agnipath scheme will be the Congress' first priority once it comes to power.
