Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi exhorted the people of Uttarakhand to unite in favour of the Congress in the upcoming general elections in the same way that they had united in the face of disaster that hit Uttarakhand in June last year.
Addressing the public at the Parade Ground in Dehradun, he lambasted the BJP, its prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi without taking his name and stressed that politics was about alleviating the pain of the masses while suppressing one’s own pride and anger. He further said that in the next five to 10 years the Congress would introduce Right to Health as part of its efforts to facilitate public welfare.
He began his speech which lasted about half an hour, by thanking Uttarakhand for his schooling and added that his great grandfather had also thanked the British for having imprisoned him in the jail at Almora where he got to learn a lot about the nation and the world. “During the disaster here last year I saw the State and nation had united as one. I saw the power of Uttarakhand where even those who had lost their own children in the disaster were helping others,” he said, while adding that Chief Minister Harish Rawat had assured him that all efforts are being made to prepare infrastructure before start of the tourist season.
Targeting Modi he said, “Some people think that they have developed Gujarat whereas in reality it is the people who have facilitated this development. Senior leaders of the BJP had opposed when the Congress had proposed the introduction of computers in India but 10 years later Pramod Mahajan claimed that the BJP had brought computers to India. The BJP lacks the vision which we exhibited by introducing the right to food, right to education, right to information and other measures which have helped 14 crore Indians rise above poverty in 10 years,” he averred, while stating that the Opposition talked a lot about corruption but remained apathetic to anomalies in BJP ruled States.
“The Congress executed the biggest step against corruption by introducing Right to Information. We brought lokpal whereas in Gujarat only one man has been kept out of the purview of lokayukta. The BJP has not cooperated with us to get important Bills passed in Parliament so we are trying to get these Bills through using the Ordinance route.”
He pointed out that the 25 years old demand of servicemen for “one rank, one pension” had been met by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Addressing the women he said, “One day hopefully half of the Vidhan Sabha and lok Sabha members will be women.” He also said that the number of lPG cylinders had been increased from nine to 12 a year on the demand of women. Addressing the youth he said that work had been started on the dedicated freight corridor which would bring industries and jobs for thousands.
CM Harish Rawat said that some people had visited Uttarakhand during the disaster on a political mission. “Rahul Gandhi is the reply to divisive forces and he has told us to ensure the best possible rehabilitation for the disaster affected. Reopening the Yatra routes is a matter of self respect for Uttarakhand,” he added.
PCC chief and Cabinet Minister Yashpal Arya alleged that the BJP had planned to weaken the nation while previous CM Vijay Bahuguna said that Rahul Gandhi had a sentimental bond with Uttarakhand. Cabinet Minister Indira Hridayesh and Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj also addressed the gathering in the presence of Congress leaders including State in-charge Ambika Soni.