Lok Sabha Election 2024: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central government, alleging corruption and divisive politics during an election rally in Telangana's Hyderabad on Saturday. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of manipulating the election commission and criticised the electoral bonds scheme as the world's largest scam, citing a Supreme Court ruling in February that deemed it unconstitutional.
"What earlier used to be called as Enforcement Directorate, has become Extortion Directorate today. BJP is running the world's biggest washing machine, he said. The country's most corrupt ministers and most corrupt leaders stand with Narendra Modi ji. Narendra Modi ji has his people in the Election Commission also," he said, as quoted by new agency PTI.
Claiming that nearly 30 farmers were committing suicide daily in India, he blamed Modi for favouring the rich by waiving loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore while neglecting farmers' debts. He also accused the Union government of exacerbating poverty in the country since coming to power.
Gandhi alleged that the electoral bonds scheme is a means of corruption, with companies allegedly handing over crores of rupees to the BJP after being threatened by investigative agencies like the CBI. He accused the BJP of rewarding these companies with infrastructure projects worth crores in return.
"This fight is for safeguarding the Constitution and democracy. Narendra Modi ji works for three-four per cent of people. He has the media, money, intelligence agencies, CBI , ED and everything. We have truth and people's love. Truth and people achieve victory," he remarked.
He further claimed that under the BJP government, the bank accounts of Congress have been frozen, but he asserted that the Congress does not fear the BJP.
Rahul Gandhi On Congress Manifesto Promises
Gandhi highlighted the Congress manifesto's commitment to five 'Nyays' (justice), including 'Kisan Nyay' which promises loan waivers and a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers. He assured that their manifesto represents the aspirations of Indians and pledged to fulfill poll guarantees made to Telangana residents.
The Congress leader announced a 'Nari Nyay Law', promising to deposit Rs 1 lakh annually into the bank accounts of women from every family in India, calling it a revolutionary step that would uplift millions. He emphasised the manifesto's focus on youth empowerment, offering apprenticeships worth Rs 1 lakh in every sector.
"We will bring a 'Nari Nyay Law' under which we will put Rs 1 lakh in the bank account of every woman of every family in India, every year. This is a revolutionary step. This will change the face of the whole country. Just imagine, the Congress Party government is going to give at least Rs 1 lakh directly to the bank account of the poorest families in India. This means that there will not be a single family in India whose income will not be Rs 1 lakh per year," he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
"Whatever there was in the people's mind is there in the party's manifesto...In every sector, we will give apprenticeship of Rs 1 lakh to the youths... If one will see the manifesto there are several things for the youths," he further emphasised.
Congress Defeated BJP's B Team (BRS) In Telangana, Now Going To Defeat A Team: Rahul Gandhi
In a direct attack on the BJP, Rahul Gandhi accused the party of spreading hatred across the country and contrasted it with the ethos of Telangana, where he claimed people had opened millions of shops of love in the market of hatred. He criticised Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) for betraying the state's dreams and expressed his desire for Telangana to lead the way for all Indian states.
Gandhi highlighted the Congress's electoral victories in Telangana, stating, "Congress has defeated BJP's B team (BRS) in Telangana and it is now going to defeat the A team in Delhi (BJP) in the coming elections."
"I had said that Telangana had a dream, which KCR worked to break. I want Telangana to show the way to all the states of India and for this we will work together," he said.
The former Congress president ended his address by urging the people of Telangana to defeat the BJP's 'B team' and vowed to challenge the 'Made in China' dominance with 'Made in Telangana' products. He affirmed his commitment to building a more inclusive and prosperous India.
"I want Made in Telangana to compete with Made in China. BJP people spread hatred in the country, but in Telangana, you all have opened lakhs of shops of love in the market of hatred," he remarked.