Take it in writing, INDIA will defeat BJP in Gujarat in coming assembly election: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi adopted an aggressive stance during his maiden speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, July 1. In his address, Gandhi raised multiple issues, from the NEET examination to matters of religion, and launched a sharp attack on the central government. He also openly challenged the Modi government regarding the upcoming assembly elections in several states.
Gandhi asserted that the INDIA alliance, which includes the Congress and other opposition parties, would secure a victory in the forthcoming Gujarat assembly elections. "You can take it in writing that the opposition INDIA alliance is going to defeat you (BJP) in Gujarat," he declared.
Highlighting economic concerns, Gandhi criticized the government's demonetization policy and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He claimed these measures were implemented to benefit billionaires at the expense of small industrialists. "Ask any small industrialist why demonetization was done? They will tell you that all this was done to help billionaires. I went to Gujarat and spoke to a textile owner. When I asked him why demonetization and GST were introduced, he clearly said that GST was brought to help billionaires because Narendra Modi works for billionaires," Gandhi said.
During his remarks, a BJP member interrupted Gandhi, questioning his visits to Gujarat. This was a pointed reference to Gandhi's defamation case in a Gujarat court, which had previously led to his two-year imprisonment sentence and temporary disqualification as an MP. Responding to the interruption, Gandhi reaffirmed his commitment to Gujarat, stating, "I keep going to Gujarat and this time I will defeat you in Gujarat. You can take it in writing that the opposition INDIA alliance is going to defeat you in Gujarat."
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Mumbai-Pune Expressway connecting link now fully operational
Mumbai (PTI): The Mumbai-bound carriageway of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway connecting link was opened to vehicular traffic on Saturday noon after a delay caused by the dismantling of inauguration infrastructure and cleaning work, a day after the Pune section became operational.
The 13.3 km-long "missing link", which bypasses a section of the Bhor Ghat stretch of the expressway and cuts travel time between Mumbai and Pune by 25 to 30 minutes, was inaugurated a day earlier by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.
The Pune-bound carriageway of the corridor was opened to traffic immediately; however, the Mumbai-bound section remained closed to traffic for several hours after the inauguration.
An official of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation told PTI on Saturday that the opening of the Mumbai-bound carriageway was delayed mainly due to the dismantling of the inauguration infrastructure and cleaning work.
The removal of the stage and other decorations was completed in the morning. The work to load and transport the material slightly delayed the opening of the carriageway.
Vehicular movement on the carriageway began after all the remaining material was cleared and road cleaning was completed, the official added.
The expressway control room said that despite significant vehicular movement, the access-controlled highway has not witnessed any major traffic snarls since Friday evening, after the Pune-bound carriageway of the missing link was opened to traffic.
The Missing Link project connects Khopoli (in Raigad) on the Mumbai side to Kusgaon near Lonavala in Pune district and is expected to make the expressway fully access-controlled, easing congestion in the ghat section.
Developed by the MSRDC and dubbed an "engineering marvel", the project includes two tunnels, two viaducts and a cable-stayed bridge over Tiger Valley. It bypasses the steep, accident-prone ghat section, where frequent traffic snarls are reported during weekends and on public holidays.
