Punjab Election: Understand 'Hidden Powers' Behind Modi And Kejriwal, Says Rahul Gandhi

The Congress leader reiterated that Punjab was not a laboratory for political experiments and stressed that only his party was capable of maintaining peace in the border state.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks during a public meeting, ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, in Gurdaspur | Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, accusing them of making false promises to the people of Punjab.

Addressing a rally in Patiala's Rajpura, Rahul Gandhi asked voters to look at the actions of PM Modi and Kejriwal to understand the "hidden powers" that are at work behind them.

Taking on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he claimed those seeking one chance to form the government would "destroy Punjab" and the state "will burn".

The Congress leader reiterated that Punjab was not a laboratory for political experiments and stressed that only his party was capable of maintaining peace in the border state.

"The most important thing for Punjab is its peace. This is not a laboratory, not a chemistry lab or any such place where experiments can be done. Punjab is a border and sensitive state and only the Congress party understands Punjab and can maintain peace in the state," he said.

Taking on the AAP, Gandhi said, "Those who are making promises to you, saying 'ek baar mauka do', they will destroy Punjab. Punjab will burn, remember my words."

Gandhi said he had been in politics since 2004 and, if any new person comes, that individual says "look he is Modi, Kejriwal, Gandhi, and that new person only sees a face".

"Modi is standing, don't look at his face, but you ask which all hidden powers are behind him and then look at their actions, then you will understand politics," he said.

The Congress leader criticised Modi for demonetisation and the farm laws.

"Is the power of the poor is behind Modi. No, the poor are suffering. Modi then brought three black bills for destroying the lives of farmers. He is not a single person, there are hidden forces behind him.

"Farmers were protesting for a year and there cannot be the power of farmers backing him. Otherwise, 700 farmers would not have died," he said.

He then told the gathering "look which force is behind Modi". "Who was trying to snatch what the farmers have? The country's biggest three-four billionaires wanted to snatch. They say there is a lot of money with farmers, fields and government warehouses and we want it," said Gandhi.

Taking on Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi said, "Then Kejriwal comes, think which forces are hidden behind him, when you understand this and by closing your eyes which force was behind Kejriwal, you will understand Punjab politics."

Again targeting Modi, Gandhi said, "In India, petrol and diesel prices are constantly on the rise, which power is getting the benefit?''

"These are the same powers which got farm laws implemented, did demonetisation, GST.. Modi is not an individual, behind him there is power," he further said.

He then said Modi did not lower petrol and diesel prices, but Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi did.

"Had there been the same power behind Channi, he would never have been able to lower these prices. But your power is behind our the chief minister and he did it. This is the fight," said Gandhi.

Polling for 117 seats of the Punjab Legislative Assembly will take place in a single phase on February 20 while the votes will be counted on March 10.

(With PTI inputs)