Rahul targets 'chowkidar' PM, questions his silence on Rafale, Mallya
Jaipur, Sep 20 : Sharpening his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a variety of stinging barbs, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday questioned Modi's silence on Rafale fighter jet deal scam, the flight of businessmen facing money-laundering charges and demonetisation fiasco.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls himself the country's watchman. But the Indian masses have started saying, 'gali gali mein shore hai, desh ka chawkidaar chor hai (there is noise in lanes that the watchman is a thief)," said Gandhi in Dungarpur while addressing a rally.
"I want this 'chowkidaar' to answer why the Rafale aircraft price went up over three times from the one contracted during the UPA's tenure; why Anil Ambani was taken to France to sign Rafale contract and why this chowkidar was silent when Vijay Mallya ran away from India with Rs 9,000 crore after meeting Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley," Gandhi said.
He said the Prime Minister spoke of black money, brought in demonetisation and forced the entire country to stand in queues.
"Farmers, workers and labourers were seen standing in huge queues outside banks. But did you see any person in suits, or Lalit Modi or Vijay Mallya or Ambani standing in queues? It was only the poor who sweated outside the banks in queues," he said.
Even (Finance Minister) Jaitley confirmed that Mallya had met him before going to London. In such cases when a constable allows a thief to run, we put him also behind bars. Now, the Finance Minister helped a thief who ran away with Rs 9,000 crore. Why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi silent? he questioned.
Rahul Gandhi also questioned if any of the citizens in India got Rs 15 lakh deposited in their account which the PM had promised.
He said that Congress would not make "fake" promises. "We shall never make promise of transferring Rs 15 lakh, but we promise that we shall make cent per cent efforts to promote Rajasthan," he added.
"We shall make an endeavour to listen to your 'Mann ki baat', instead of sharing our 'Mann ki Baat' which our PM does," he said.
Calling 'Make in India campaign a failed show, he said the Prime Minister promised to bring in new jobs. "However, you keep searching for Make in India label in your shirts, trousers, shoes and phones and only get to read Made in China."
When you see Narendra Modi smiling in a poster, and watch (Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje) smiling on TV, you should know that poster and ad in TV is being made from your money. Crores of public funds are being used to take out Gaurav yatras".
He declared that "Once Congress forms government, we will ensure that banks give loans to small traders, small and medium entrepreneurs and farmers so that no one has to fry pakoras", he said.
"We shall convert 'gabbar singh tax' into GST to ensure that small traders don't suffer," he said, adding that GST has been introduced to please a few industrialists without giving any thought for small traders.
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“Full prepared..going to win,” Congress MP KC Venugopal ahead of Kerala polls
EC not functioning as a neutral institution: Venugopal
Congress MP K. C. Venugopal on Monday raised concerns over the election schedule announced by the Election Commission of India for the upcoming Kerala Assembly election, questioning the timing of the poll dates and alleging that the schedule leaves limited time for campaigning.
Speaking to news agency ANI in Delhi after the poll panel announced elections in five states and Union Territories, Venugopal said that the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are fully prepared for the elections and confident of victory. At the same time, he questioned the pattern of dates announced by the Election Commission.
“We are fully prepared, we are going to win the elections... You can see how the Election Commission has set the dates. The first phase of elections is on the 9th, nominations are due until the 23rd, scrutiny is on the 24th, nominations can be withdrawn until the 26th, and after that, there are 11 days for campaigning,” he said.
“As for Kerala, there is Easter and Good Friday in the first week...The Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier... The counting date is on May 4th, so what was the point of holding elections in Kerala so early? What is their intention behind holding elections on the same day in Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam?... We are confident that we will win, but the people of the country are seeing the biased attitude of the Election Commission...,” he added.
He further stated that his party was ready for elections irrespective of the dates announced by the poll body.
“We are going to win the election. India's strategy has been set up. And we are all ready for winning this election. But one thing as far as declaring election, even though they are giving only for five days, we are going to win the election. We have no problem,” he said.
Detailing the poll schedule while questioning the time available for campaigning, he stated, “but you can see the pattern of date which the election commission announced. Yesterday they declared election, and today they notified us. The first phase of election on April 9th, filing of nomination will be over on the 23rd of this month, 24th scrutiny, 26th withdrawal of nomination. After 26, four plus seven, 11 days campaign.”
“As far as Kerala is concerned, April first week is a holy week. The holiday week means, Good Friday is there. Nobody will do anything on Good Friday. Easter is the big festival. These festivals are natural, you have to see that. Among the 11 days, working days, two, three days will go for holidays. Then hardly seven, eight days for campaigning in this election for candidates,” the Congress MP questioned.
The Congress leader said the Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier if there was a need for an early election schedule.
Questioning the urgency behind placing Kerala in the first phase of polling, he added that the counting date is much later.
“Which is the date of counting? Fourth May. Then what is the urgency of putting Kerala in the first phase without giving sufficient time for candidates? And putting Kerala, Puducherry, Assam together, what is the intention behind that?” Venugopal questioned.
He also alleged that the Election Commission was not functioning as a neutral institution.
“The Election commission is completely losing that capacity as a neutral player. You can see 14 of our prime minister's programs over and on the 15th they announce the election, 16th notification comes,” he said.
Venugopal further stated that such tactics would not affect the Congress’ prospects in the election.
“They think that this type of techniques and tactics, because of these techniques and tactics, UDF is going to lose, and Congress is going to lose. This is their complete dream only. This is not going to happen. We are very much confident at any cost, whether they are not giving any time also, we are going to win the election,” he said.
“But the people of India are watching this. The tricks of the election commission. To restrict the campaign, people of India are watching. This I want to bring into the notice of the nation. That's all,” Venugopal said.
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the Kerala Assembly election. Polling in the state will be held in a single phase on April 9 while the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
