launching Congress’ poll campaign in Shadol in Madhya Pradesh, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the Shivraj Singh Chouhan Government for its “hollow” claims about development and said he wants to introduce new form of politics in the State.
At same time, Rahul tried to stir up emotions by recalling how Sonia Gandhi was in tears at not being able to cast her vote when the Food security Bill was passed in the lok Sabha.
“I will not leave until the bill is passed. I have fought for years for the bill and will not leave until I press that button,” Rahul said at the Satta parivartan rally’, giving a blow-by-blow account of his mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s illness the day the epoch-making legislation was passed.
“When I took her to hospital, she could hardly breathe and tears welled up in her eyes. She said Rahul, I fought for the bill for years, I wanted to press the button (to register her vote) but could not,” Rahul said recounting his mother’s frustration at not being able to cast her vote.
“Now the bill has been passed. For the first time in India, nobody will go hungry,” he said, hardselling the Food Security Act, a measure Congress expects would shield it from anti-incumbency factor in next year’s general elections.
Rahul said he wanted to introduce a new style in politics where leaders went to people, ate with them and asked them about their welfare. Trashing MP government’s claims about development, he referred to a UNICEF report which said the present levels of hunger in Madhya Pradesh were comparable to those in Africa.
“Still BJP continues to trumpet its claims about development… The BJP can make as many claims as it wants about development but the truth is that under its rule, nothing has been done for the youth, farmers, women and the unemployed,” he said addressing the rally at lalpur, about 18 kms from here.
“For them (BJP) a good road where shining cars can run smoothly is a sign of development. For us it is feeding the poor, giving them honour and respect…Congress will give you back the respect you deserve. The Congress would ensure that all people, including tribals, get the respect they deserve,” he said, adding anybody not falling in line will have to pay for it.
Maintaining that Congress was committed to promoting the interests of the common man, Rahul said, “We want them in Parliament, Assemblies, panchayats. They (BJP) don’t want them in these places.”
“Our ties with tribals are not political, these are intrinsically familial,” he said.