Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pursuing the politics of marketing and lies and spreading hatred. Rahul, who along with SP president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav conducted roadshow in Agra, said Modi has been ignoring the interests of farmers, the poor and working class. “The informal sector was worst hit by the demonetisation of the high value currency notes but there was nothing in the Budget for the people who bore the brunt of the note ban,” he added.
Speaking at the second roadshow by the alliance leaders after lucknow on January 29, Akhilesh said the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance will pave the way for the change in national politics. The alliance will determine the direction of the national politics, he claimed.
Rahul also said the alliance will bring people together irrespective of their caste and religion. “Do yuva Uttar Pradesh ko banana mein lage hain, paanch saal baad aap Uttar Pradesh ko pahchaan nahi payange (two youths are working on the task of rebuilding Uttar Pradesh and after five years you will not be able to recognise your State),” he added.
Rahul also said, “Akhilesh has worked a lot for changing the destiny of UP, but lot more needs to be done to change UP and we together will do it,” said Rahul.
Questioning the Prime Minister’s claim of fighting the corruption, Rahul said, “He talks of fighting corruption but he works only for protecting the interests of the 50 richest people of India.” “I will not name those 50 people you all know them,” he added.
The roadshow covering a distance of 12 km in Agra covered three out of total nine Assembly constituencies of Agra. Roadshow which commenced from Dayalbagh Engineering College and concluded at Bijleeghar crossing in Agra city passed though Muslim-dominated localities.
The alliance is crucial for the electoral prospects of the Samajwadi Party as the party has failed to make breakthrough in Agra by failing to win even one seat in city in the last over two decades. If the traditional vote s of the Congress are transferred to the SP, then it could win a few seats, Agra has total nine Assembly seats. The SP has fielded six candidates, the Congress three candidates.
Both the leaders will address a rally in Kanpur on February 5. The alliance had planned for holding the roadshow in Kanpur. The plan was shelved as the Special Protection Group advised against the roadshow. On February 5, common minimum programme of the SP-Congress alliance will also be released.