Cashing in on the feeling of pride the Himachalis take in their ‘topi’ Rahul Gandhi used ‘hat’ as metaphor to drive home the ‘anti-Modi’ message.
Addressing a public rally in Dharamshala on the completion of four years of the Congress government in the state, Rahul said,”Modi ji aapne to Himachal Pradesh aur har Himachali ki ‘hat’ hi uttar di’ (Modi ji, you have tossed off the hat of Himachal Pradesh and each Himachali).
Elaborating on the word ‘Hat’ Rahul said that this stands for ‘Horticulture, agriculture and tourism. Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of disturbing the economy of Himachal Pradesh, Rahul said that demonetisation had hit these sectors badly.
Comparing demonetisation with ‘firebombing’ carried out against Japan during World War II, Rahul said that demonetization was firebombing at the Indian cash economy. Continuing his crusade against the claims of Modi for supporting cashless economy, Rahul said that money was not Black or White, but the colour of the money depends on the person, who owed it.
The cash available with 99 percent people in India was not Black money, but it becomes black, when it reaches the 1 percent people such as Vijay Malya, said Rahul.
Taking pot shots at Modi’s claim of rooting out corruption with demonetisation, Rahul said, “There is only six per cent black money in cash in India and rest 94 percent is in the form of real estate, gold and in foreign banks.” Why didn’t Modi acted against the 94 percent black money, which has been hoarded by 1 percent peopleIJ, quipped Rahul.
Raising questions on the intention behind demonetization, Rahul said that the government’s intention of getting entire cash into banks was actually gathering money to waive off loans of 8 lac crore, which had been declared NPA (Non performing assets) by the government. He alleged, in last one year, government had waived off loans of 1.40 lac crore and the benefits have gone to those people who accompany PM Modi on foreign trips and get mega defence contracts
Turning down the claims of bad planning for demonetization, Rahul said that Modi was known to be a master event planner, and he had planned it in a way that the entire cash available with people, has been got bound in the banks for at least six months, that was why, government was not allowing people to take out their own hard earned money. He said that Modi had said that situation would improve in 50 days, but it is not likely to improve in the next six months.
Taking on Modi for mocking at him on public platforms, Rahul said, “when I ask questions, he mocks at me... keep mocking at me but answer the question, which the youth is asking.”
Accusing Modi of creating social divide Rahul said, “Modi-ji, you have divided India into two parts. On one side is the 1 per cent rich and on the other side stand the middle class and the poor.”