Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rebutting his recent remarks about the Congress party's alleged intentions regarding wealth reallocation. Speaking at an election rally, Priyanka Gandhi questioned Modi's claims, stating, "What talks are happening in this country? Two days back there were speeches that Congress wants to snatch your 'mangalsutra'. This country has been free for the past 75 years, and 55 years Congress was in power. Did Congress ever snatch your gold or 'mangalsutra'?"
Priyanka Gandhi retorted, "When there was war, Indira Gandhi donated her gold. My mother’s 'mangalsutra' was sacrificed for this country", in reference to her father, former PM Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
She further criticised Modi, stating, "Had Narendra Modi understood the importance of 'mangalsutra', he would not have spoken such unethical things", as quoted by news agency PTI.
She was responding to Modi's assertions that the Congress would redistribute people's hard-earned money and valuables to "infiltrators" and "those who have more children", going on to name the Muslim community in a campaign speech. He alleged that the Congress would even steal the gold and "mangalsutra" of women if voted to power.
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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Priyanka Gandhi Accuses Modi Of Using Women's Issues As Political Tool
Highlighting the struggles faced by women every day in India, Priyanka Gandhi emphasised their sacrifices, saying, "When the farmer is in debt, his wife mortgages her mangalsutra. When there is a daughter's marriage or health problems in the family, the woman mortgages her jewels."
She also pointed out instances where Modi allegedly failed to address the challenges faced by women, such as during the demonetisation in 2016 when she said their savings were taken away and the migrant crisis induced by the COVID-19 lockdowns when women had to mortgage their jewels, she remarked.
“During the farmers’ agitation, 600 farmers died. Did Modi give a thought on the 'mangalsutra' of those women? When a woman was paraded naked in Manipur before the entire nation, why was Modi silent and not think of her mangalsutra?” the Congress general secretary asked, as quoted by PTI.
Priyanka Gandhi accused Modi of using women's issues as a political tool, stating, "Today, only for the election you are talking about women like this, only to scare them to get their votes. He should be ashamed." She urged the public to choose between ethical politics and drama, truth and power politics, and benevolence versus ego.
Priyanka Gandhi called upon the people to reflect on the kind of politics they want, warning that failure to do so could lead the country astray. “You have to decide whether you want ‘Naitik Rajniti’ (politics of ethics) or ‘Natak Rajniti’ (politics of drama); ‘Satta ki Rajniti’ (power politics) or ‘Satya Ki Rajniti’ (politics of truth); ‘Paropakar’ (beneficence) or ‘Ahamkar’ (ego),” she said.
She stated, "The time has come for people to think because if you don’t wake up, this country will go to the ditch."