04-May-2024 07:58 AM
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Pune, May 3 (Reporter) Senior Congress leader and MP, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his alleged flip-flops on key issues such as corruption and reservation, and not speaking on important issues concerning common people.
Addressing an election rally organised for Ravindra Dhangekar, candidate of Congress Maha Vikas Aghadi for Pune Lok Sabha constituency, here this evening, he alleged that Modi speaks of cleaning up corruption, but funds received by BJP are unaccounted for.
"Those who were prosecuted gave electoral bonds to BJP. The company which manufactured Covid vaccine was donating to BJP," he claimed.
"Even though there is corruption of election bonds, media does not report anything. It is only after the Supreme Court asked for information about election deposits, after which information was provided," he said.
"Similarly, sometimes Modi says he will end reservation, sometimes he says he will not touch reservation. Modi is not promising to remove 50 per cent cap on reservation, so he should give that promise in front of camera," he said.
He pointed that "on the contrary, we have promised to remove this limit in our manifesto. After lifting 50 per cent limit, Marathas, Dhangars and other smaller castes will get reservation."
"After our government comes to power, we will conduct a caste-wise census. From this, a fair picture of society will come out," he said and quipped, "Since the day we said we will do caste-wise census, Modi has been saying 'I am OBC'."
As there is no Dalit or Adivasi among big entrepreneurs or media organisations, the media does not hightlight common people's issues even though loans and gold are becoming expensive, he said.
In fact, it shows marriages of wealthy industrialists like Mukesh Ambani or Gautam Adani's children and call the same as development, he noted.
Continuing his attack further, Gandhi charged that Modi waived off loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore of 22
businessmen in the country and informed that with that amount, farmers of the country could have been given loan waiver 24 times.
Hitting out at Modi for using disrespectful language about senior leaders like NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and others, the Congress leader reminded the Prime Minister to speak on civic issues, citizens' schemes and development works in the country, rather than lowering the dignity of the post by speaking in an insulting manner.
He criticised the Prime Minister for giving contract of maintenance of airports in the country to an industrialist and for initiating the process of privatisation of railways.
Gandhi promised to scrap Agniveer scheme, change GST rates, give Rs one lakh per year to one woman in each family and double salary of Asha and Anganwadi workers...////...