Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, on Saturday, accused the ruling BJP of harbouring intentions to alter the Constitution if returned to power, despite their current denial. Addressing a public rally in Dharampur village of tribal-dominated Valsad district in Gujarat, Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over inflation, branding him a "mehengai" man.
Taking a swipe at Modi's electioneering style, Gandhi urged the public to remember him as the "mehengai (inflation) man." She questioned, "PM Modi enters the stage during elections like “Superman”. BJP leaders project the prime minister as powerful and say that ‘chutki bajake ladai rukva dete hai (he can stop the war – Russia-Ukraine – with the snap of fingers)’. Then why is he unable to remove poverty just like that"
Gandhi highlighted the plight of tribal populations in Gujarat and across the country, citing issues such as inflation, unemployment, low remuneration, land loss, and violence against women. She underscored the Congress's commitment to addressing these concerns through their manifesto, promising initiatives such as an urban MGNREGA-like scheme, job creation, subsidised diesel for fishermen, and special plans for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Priyanka Gandhi Warns Of BJP's Constitutional Agenda
Referring to BJP candidates' remarks on changing the Constitution, she stated, "BJP leaders and candidates are saying that they will change the Constitution. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi is denying it. This is their tactic."
"First, they will always deny what they want to do. But after coming to power, they will implement it. They want to change the Constitution to weaken the common people and deprive them of their rights given in our Constitution," she added, as quoted by PTI.
Accusing Modi of making populist moves ahead of elections, Gandhi criticised the reduction in LPG cylinder prices and dismissed Modi's warnings about Congress's alleged wealth redistribution plans as baseless. She remarked, "He is now warning people that Congress will enter their houses with an X-ray machine to conduct a search, then snatch your ornaments as well as ‘mangalsutra’ kept in safes and give it away to others. Is that even possible? Is he doing this out of nervousness.”
The Congress leader also rebuffed Modi's focus on Hindu-Muslim issues and international events, asserting that the electorate demands accountability on core issues like employment and healthcare. “I don’t think people can tolerate this for five more years... He just organises mega events and roams across the world. Now, when people are asking for his report card, he is getting nervous. That's why he is raising issues of Hindu-Muslim or being a Vishwaguru," Gandhi said, as per PTI.
She called upon voters to hold Modi accountable for his actions.
Responding to personal attacks on her family, Gandhi stated, "He abused our entire family, be it my mother, grandmother, grandfather, brother (Rahul Gandhi), and my husband. But, we never cared." She contrasted Modi's conduct with that of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whom she described as a "sabhya insan (civilised person)."
In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Congress's Anant Patel will face BJP's Dhaval Patel in the Valsad constituency. Gujarat's all 26 Lok Sabha seats are set for polling in the third phase on May 7, with BJP aiming to replicate its past successes in the state.