Hailing the Congress victory in three states as a mandate for the leadership of party president Rahul Gandhi, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that it marked the beginning of the end of the BJP-led NDA government in the country.
Capt Amarinder, reacting to the assembly poll results declared on Tuesday, said that the Congress performance showed that the party was on an upswing across the country. “The results have clearly shown that the people of India are now fed up of the destructive and anti-development policies of the Narendra Modi government and wanted a positive change,” he said.
Congratulating the party president as well as UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the Congress win in three states of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Capt Amarinder said that the party had clearly revived under Rahul’s dynamic leadership.
The results were a sign of the mood of the nation, which saw in Rahul the youthful change it needed to bring India back on the track of development, which had been the hallmark of the previous UPA regime under the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, he said. The people of India felt cheated by the failure of the Modi government to deliver on any of its promises made five years ago, he said, adding that, at the same time, they were desperate to see an end to the vicious cycle of communal hatred and violence unleashed by the BJP-led regime. It is a moment of celebration not just for the Congress but also for the people of this country, said the Chief Minister.
BJP ALLY SAD SAYS FARMERS' ISSUES WILL HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED
The BJP-led Centre will have to “review” the issues facing the farmers, the Shiromani Akali Dal, the party’s key ally in Punjab, said ON Tuesday as the poll trends and results in the three Hindi heartland states pointed at a poor showing by the saffron party. While the issues facing the farmers had played its part, anti-incumbency factor too had worked against the BJP, senior SAD leader and MP Prem Singh Chandumajra said. “There are two-three issues in these polls. One was, of course, the anti-incumbency factor, besides the local issues. The farmers’ issue was also a key one and while the BJP governments, both at the Centre and in the states, have taken it up on priority, it seems more needs to be done to ensure that schemes for farmers’ benefit are fully implemented at the ground level,” he said. Chandumajra said there was also resentment among farmers over the way the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was being implemented.
“While private insurance companies are raking in crores of rupees as profit, farmers are not getting the compensation for crop damage the way they should have got,” he said.
“The farmers’ issue will have to be reviewed by the government,” he added.
HOODA HAILS VICTORY
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday hailed the Congress’ performance in three Hindi heartland states and said the poll results had set the alarm bells ringing for the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.
He said the Congress’ performance showed that the party was on an upswing in the country. “These polls were being treated as the semi-final to 2019 (general election). The Congress’ performance has been quite impressive in the Hindi heartland states. The results have set the alarm bells ringing for the BJP-led government at the Centre,” Hooda said, reacting to the assembly poll results in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
He congratulated Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the party’s impressive show in the three states where Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power.
“Under the able leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the party is definitely on an upswing across the country. The credit goes to him and Congress workers…the countdown for the NDA government has begun,” Hooda said.
The senior Congress leader alleged that the BJP ignored farmers’ plight, which was a big issue in the polls.
“The government did not bother about the plight of farmers. Small traders were badly hit by GST even as Modi government’s decision on demonetisation was widely criticised. Besides, unemployment was also another key issue,” Hooda said.