Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak about tribal tenancy laws, starvation deaths, rapes and unemployment in Jharkhand – a statement that comes close on the heels of Modi’s challenge to the Congress party to give Indian citizenship to all Pakistanis.
“From this podium in Pakur, I challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the people of Jharkhand to speak about Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act, starvation deaths, growing number of rapes and unemployment in the State,” Priyanka said addressing an election rally in favour of Congress party’s Pakur candidate Alamgir Alam.
Wednesday’s rally was Priyanka’s first ever election rally for Assembly election in any Indian State. She has been one of the vocal protestors of the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). On Wednesday too she took jibes at the Prime Minister over CAA, and asked if he was the Prime Minister of the country or the Prime Minister of divisive forces. “Aap Desh ke Pradhan Mantri Hain Ya Batware Ke (Are you the Prime Minister of the country or divisive forces?),” she asked.
Addressing a rally in Barhait on Tuesday, Modi had dared the Congress party to allow Indian citizenship to all Pakistanis if they had the guts to do so.
His statement came as a figurative reaction to the Congress party’s growing criticism of the CAA and allegation of communal barb on the ruling Government.
Passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 12, the CAA allows Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on the assumption that religious persecution led to their migration from the country.
On Wednesday, Priyanka accused the BJP of trying to make changes to the tenancy laws, grab tribal land and give them away to the capitalists. She asked the tribal voters to re-impose their faith in the Congress party. “The Congress party, since the days of Indira Gandhi has worked for safeguarding tribal rights, land and forest. This land belongs to you all, the forests belong to you, the water belongs to you, and nobody can take them away from you all,” she said.
Priyanka accused the BJP of cancelling 12 lakh ration cards and forcing poor people to die of hunger. The BJP Government, she added, did not do anything to address the problem of unemployment, poverty and inflation. “They do not talk about the falling economy, migration, poverty, crime against women and unemployment. And whenever you ask them questions related to these issues, they bluntly blame the Congress party. But we are not in power anymore,” she said.
Priyanka accused the BJP Government of shutting down 4000 schools and exploiting the thousands of ad hoc workers in State. “In five years, they could not solve the issues of Anganwadi Sevikas and para teachers in Jharkhand. Where is the development they are talking about?” she asked. “BJP is hero in campaigning and zero in performance. They only know how to make tall promises and fool people,” she said.
The Congress party is contesting 31 of 81 seats in Jharkhand as a part of a tripartite alliance between Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress party. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has addressed at least five election rallies on the State since the announcement of elections here on November 1. Other Congress big guns such as Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and the party’s State In-Charge RPN Singh have also been involved in aggressive campaigning here for the UPA alliance.