Probably fearing a backlash and apprehensive of scoring a self-goal Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi maintained silence over corruption issue while addressing a poll rally at Jaganathpur, the constituency where Geeta Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda and kingpin of `2,500 crore scam, is into the fray.
During his about half an hour speech in the favour of Congress candidate Sunny Sinku on Friday the Gandhi scion talked everything from RTI and land Acquisition Act to facilities of cold storage and fair price of their produce but the malpractice taken during the regime in which the Congress was also partnering. The issue would also have spilled the bean about endless saga of corruption taken place during UPA’s ten years stay in power at the Center.
“He did not say anything about Kodas and corruption issue as such. Instead, he focused on filling vacancies, storage facilities for farmers and bazaar samiti for them,” said Congress candidate Sunny Sinku.
Similarly in his another address, Rahul, reiterating the promises made by his party in its manifesto. The Congress vice-president stressed on increasing Assembly seats from 81 to 140. Addressing an election rally at Chaibasa he at the same time also hit hard on the BJP ruled Government at the Center allegedly for diluting landmark Bills passed under the UPA regime.
“It is the firm belief of the Congress party that the seats in the Jharkhand Assembly should be raised up to 140. If our party comes to power we would do it. We are committed to promises made in the manifesto prepared by the party and surely act on providing 35 kg of rice free of cost to poor, implementation of Sarna Code, lakhs of jobs, roads to every villages and 24 hour power to farmers,” said Rahul with cheer from the crowd gathered at Tata College ground.
All the announcement he made have been mentioned in the manifesto the party had released ahead of polls. Interestingly, chairman of the Congress’ campaign committee Subodh Kant Sahay was present on the dais for the first time with any member of the Gandhi family electioneering in the poll bound State. Nevertheless, Congress is the only party that has talked about raising Assembly seats and Rahul lashed out the chance to score a point.
He on the occasion did not spare his biggest rival the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The Congress party always believes in working for the poor and work in unison manner rather than autocratically. If we come to the Government we will work taking others along and not alone. We will change Jharkhand in that manner. I also promise to you that we will not make you sweep,” said Rahul taking a dig on the Prime Minister’s Clean India Mission.
The Congress leader ahead of the second round of polls slated to take place on December 2 covering 20 Assembly seats — the highest in the entire poll process — charged the BJP-led Government for working for the interest of industrial houses at the cost of common man. “This Government is planning to take away you land and transferring it to big industrialists without passing the benefits to you. It in is the complete contrast of what we did during our regime. We empowered you with the land Acquisition Act which assures four times more compensation to the land holders. We gave you RTI. But they are snatching all those one by one away from you,” he added.
The drive home his point Rahul also mentioned his protest against demolition drive in Delhi on Thursday against illegal slums and connected it with the DNA of the Congress saying, “we always keep interest of the poor above all. We want to form a Government for development for all, employment for all and rights to all. We want to bring a Government that can hand you over your rights.”