On the second day of his campaign in Punjab, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday called Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal a “symbol of corruption” and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clear the air on why he was seeking votes for the “corrupt” if he was fighting against the menace.
Addressing a poll rally in the constituency of Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal in Jalalabad, Rahul sharpened his attack on the Akalis for allegedly plundering Punjab and appealed people to vote for the Congress in the February 4 polls “to transform Punjab”.
Attacking Sukhbir and Modi, Rahul said, “On one hand there is the Akali Dal and on the other hand there is Narendra Modi. Modi comes here (to Punjab) and says he is against corruption and is fighting against corruption.”
“Sab se zyada bhrashtachaar Hindustan mein ek pradesh mein hota hain. Aur us bhrashtachaar ka koi chinh hai, koi nishan hai, toh uska naam Sukhbir Badal hai. (In India, maximum corruption takes place in one State. And if there is any symbol of this corruption, it is Sukhbir Singh Badal),” Rahul said launching a sharp attack on Sukhbir, who is five-time CM Prakash Singh Badal’s son.
Attacking Modi in the same breath, Rahul said, “Modi comes here (to Punjab), delivers speech and says he is against corruption and has waged a war against it. Modi tells people here is Sukhbir Badal, you support him, vote for him and re-elect him.”
“On one hand, Modi says he is fighting corruption and on the other hand he is trying to help India’s most corrupt person. So, Modi, tell us clearly if you are fighting against corruption, then why are you standing by Sukhbir Badal. Why are you helping him. Entire Punjab knows Sukhbir Badal is a symbol of corruption, but you say no no he is not a symbol of corruption. Now, whether people are right or whether you (Modi)
are right, we will come to know in polls,” he said.
Rahul said the ruling Badals had “plundered” the State for their own interests. “They have ruined the State by controlling everything here. The youth is unemployed while the industry is in shambles,” he charged.
He promised that if Congress forms the Government in Punjab, then the regime led by Amarinder Singh, will bring a tough law to tackle the drug problem.
Rahul said Congress delivers what it promises to the people unlike other parties who allegedly betray people after coming to power.
Attacking Arvind Kejriwal and AAP, Rahul said the Delhi Chief Minister had promised to voters that he will transform Delhi if his party comes to power there, but “now various sections were up against them for befooling the people”.
“Ask autorickshaw
wallahs, slum dwellers, safai karamcharis, poor, they will tell you the reality,” he said hitting out at AAP.
Rahul also said that Kejriwal knows well that his game is over in Delhi and he is facing public wrath there, which is why now he wants to become “Punjab’s CM”.
He, however, said that people of Punjab will never choose an “outsider”.
Rahul also said that Congress has always stood for and will always stand for the welfare of the poor, downtrodden, Dalits, small farmers, labourers and other weaker sections and appealed to the public to give the party a chance to serve them in Punjab.
He also talked about the problems faced by the common people in the wake of demonetisation. Jalalabad Assembly constituency is witnessing a high-profile contest this time, with two MP of rival parties throwing their hat in the ring to take on Sukhbir Badal.
While Congress has fielded its ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu to take on Sukhbir Badal, AAP has fielded its Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann from the seat.
Rahul on Friday began his Punjab tour by addressing a rally at Majitha, from where Cabinet Minister and Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal’s brother-in-law, Bikram Singh Majithia is seeking re-election for the third term.