Rahul Gandhi dubs NEET anti-poor, says states can decide on it if INDIA bloc voted to power
Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Apr 12: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday assured a legislation to provide apprenticeship to young people and filling 30 lakh vacant government jobs.
Addressing his first election rally in Tamil Nadu, Rahul Gandhi dubbed the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test anti-poor. "I know, the people of Tamil Nadu have a big issue with NEET. We are going to leave the decision to the state; on whether you want to do NEET or not to do NEET. NEET is an anti-poor exam and we are more than happy to allow you (Tamil Nadu) to take a decision on whether or not to take the exam."
Picking from ally DMK's campaign themes, the Congress leader said when Tamil Nadu sought flood relief, it is "refused," by the Centre. The ruling DMK has been consistently focusing on the Rs 37,000 crore flood relief sought by Tamil Nadu alleging that the Union government did not give even a single paisa.
The Centre labels Tamil Nadu's request for flood relief as "Pitchai," a plea made to seek "alms," Gandhi alleged. DMK and Congress have been alleging that BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman belittled flood relief as "pitchai."
When fishermen seek assistance they get nothing from the Centre and similar is the plight of Tamil farmers, who are forced to go to Jantar Mantar in Delhi to fight for their rights, he claimed.
Outlining the features of Congress party's 2024 LS polls manifesto, he said if the INDIA bloc is voted to power at the Centre, "drastic action" will be taken to provide employment opportunities to the young people.
There are 30 lakh vacant jobs in the government and these jobs will be provided to young people, he said and added that in order to benefit all the graduates and diploma holders a law--Right to Apprenticeship-- will be passed in the Parliament.
Slamming the BJP, Gandhi alleged the Saffron party MPs openly stated that "they are going to change the Constitution" if they retained power at the Centre.
While the rest of the world earlier looked at India as a beacon of democracy; now it is of the view that India's democracy is no longer a democracy, the former Congress president alleged.
Attacking PM Modi, he said: "The only thing Modi cares about is "having a monopoly on finances and the communication system (seen as reference to media) of this country."
He said the nation today faced an ideological battle. On the one side is the ideology of social justice, freedom and equality, championed by icons such as reformist leader Periyar E V Ramasamy and on the other side are the ideas of RSS and PM Narendra Modi and his government.
Gandhi alleged Modi stood for "one nation, one leader and one language." He alleged all India's institutions and agencies have been "stuffed full of RSS people."
The ED, CBI and Income Tax departments are used as "political weapons" and election commissioners are being chosen by the Prime Minister.
The Congress party's bank accounts were frozen and two months before polls, Chief Ministers (Jharkhand's Hemanth Soren and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal) are arrested and opposition leaders are threatened.
The whole idea of the BJP is to make sure that three or four of India's richest people benefit. The Congress leader reiterated that the MSMEs were destroyed by a "flawed" GST and demonetisation.
Referring to the farmers protest, Gandhi assured legal guarantee to MSP. "Modi has given huge loan waivers to the richest people in the country. We are going to give the farmers of India a farm loan waiver."
For the poorest of women living in poverty, one woman from each of such families, will be provided Rs one lakh every year if the INDIA alliance is voted to power. "We are going to wipe out poverty from India forever."
Fifty per cent reservation for women in government jobs and immediate implementation of reservation for women in Lok Sabha and other legislative bodies and not like PM Modi's "after 10 years" assurance was among the Congress leader's promises.
Gandhi said he really loved visiting Tamil Nadu and loved the people of the state. He praised Tamil people, their culture, history and language as the "biggest teacher."
Whenever he wanted to understand India, he did that through the prism of Tamil Nadu; its history and tradition, its relationship with the rest of the world and its influence.
Hailing leaders of Tamil Nadu including Periyar, CN Annadurai, Kamaraj and M Karunanidhi as giants, he said: "You have shown the rest of the country how to walk on the path of social justice."
Hence, when it was decided by the Congress party to conduct the Bharat Jodo Yatra it was launched in Tamil Nadu, he said.
"This is an ideological battle; a battle for your history, tradition, culture and way of life. I am going to stand and Congress party is going to stand with Tamil people to protect your language, culture and your history."
Tamil language is no less than any other language and an attack on Tamil language is an attack on Tamil people, nothing less. There can be no India without Tamil, Bengali and other languages Indian people speak and the fight is all about guarding all the Indian languages.
Further, he said: "This election is being fought to save Indian democracy and it is being fought to protect the Indian Constitution. I am confident we are going to win this fight."
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India summons Canadian diplomat after pro-'Khalistan' slogans raised at event addressed by Trudeau
New Delhi, Apr 29: India on Monday summoned the Canadian deputy high commissioner and lodged a strong protest with him over raising of pro-'Khalistan' slogans at a public event in Toronto that was attended by Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several other leaders.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the shouting of the slogans at the event that was personally addressed by Trudeau as "disturbing" and said it illustrated once again the political space that has been given in Canada to "separatism, extremism and violence".
It said the actions not only impact India-Canada relations but also encourage a climate of violence and criminality in Canada to the detriment of its own citizens.
"The Canadian deputy high commissioner was today summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs with regard to the raising of separatist slogans on 'Khalistan' at an event which was being personally addressed by the prime minister of Canada," the MEA said.
The summoning of Deputy High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler came a day after the event in Toronto.
In his address at the event, Trudeau reaffirmed Canada's unwavering commitment to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the Sikh community.
"The Government of India's deep concern and strong protest was conveyed at such disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked at the event," the MEA said.
"This illustrates once again the political space that has been given in Canada to separatism, extremism and violence," it said in a statement.
It further added: "Their continued expressions not only impact India-Canada relations but also encourage a climate of violence and criminality in Canada to the detriment of its own citizens."
The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia.
New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".
Days after Trudeau's allegations, India asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity. Subsequently, Canada withdrew 41 diplomats and their family members from India.
India has been asserting that its "core issue" with Canada remained that of the space given to separatists, terrorists and anti-India elements in that country.
Following Trudeau's allegations last year, India temporarily suspended issuance of visas to Canadian citizens. The visa services were resumed several weeks later.
