Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi on jobs, GST 'foolishness'

Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh): Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of  lying to the people in the last five years on employment and farmers’ issues and described demonetisation and GST as “foolishness” that was not done by anybody in the last 70 years.

“Narendra Modi has lied to the nation for the last five years. In his speeches, he does not speak about employment, farmers or Rs 15 lakh (in every person’s bank account). He speaks by looking at the teleprompter and his speech is controlled by a controller from behind. Time is about to change,” he said.

Addressing an election meeting in Unchahar in Rae Bareli from where UPA chairperson and his mother Sonia Gandhi is seeking re-election, Mr Gandhi said, “In the past 70 years, the foolishness of demonetisation and Gabbar Singh Tax (Mr Gandhi’s coinage for the Goods and Services Tax or GST) was not done by anyone,” Mr Gandhi said.

His remarks come against the backdrop of repeated attacks by the Prime Minister on the Congress, holding it responsible for all ills since the country got Independence. “The ‘chowkidar’ (watchman) has done ‘chori’ (theft) of factories and employment of people of Rae Bareli and Amethi (the Lok Sabha seat represented by the Congress chief himself),” he said.

He alleged that work on railway line, railway factory and food park was stopped in Amethi.

“I have the list of all the works which were stopped by this government. I will do double the work for Rae Bareli and Amethi and ensure employment for people,” he said.

Referring to the Rafale jet deal, Mr Gandhi said, “Why Rs 30,000 crore was given to Anil Ambani. The contract was taken away from HAL, Amethi.”

Mr Gandhi also accused Mr Modi of not wanting to fill 22 lakh vacant posts in the government.

“Some 22 lakh jobs are vacant in the government. Modi does not want to fill these vacant posts and only wants to help his friends. We will give these 22 lakh jobs in one year and 10 lakh jobs in panchyats,” he said.

Attacking the Modi government, the Congress president asked the gathering, “Where are Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi — in jail or outside?”

 Reaching out to distressed framers, Mr Gandhi said, “If a farmer of Rae Bareli takes loan of Rs 20,000 and is unable to repay, he is sent to jail, but when our government will come to power, no farmer will got to jail in such cases.”

“We will bring a separate farmers’ budget in which they will get to know MSP, storm loss compensation, insurance details and what they will get when they suffer losses,” he said.

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