29 May
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally in support of Congress candidate Amarinder Singh Raja Waring at Dana Mandi, Mullanpur Dakha. Gandhi accused Modi of enriching a select few while ignoring the plight of small and middle-class entrepreneurs, particularly in Punjab.
“Prime Minister Modi has made only 22 people in the country rich,” said Gandhi. He criticized Modi’s policies, such as the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetization, which he claimed devastated small industrialists. According to Gandhi, these decisions were designed to benefit business magnates like Ambani and Adani at the expense of smaller businesses, which he described as the backbone of the Indian economy.
Gandhi further alleged that Modi has been selling off government institutions to these industrialists while waiving off their debts, instead of using these funds to support farmers and generate employment for the youth. He accused the Prime Minister of fostering division among the populace along caste and religious lines to divert attention from these issues.
Addressing the crowd, Gandhi promised that a future coalition government led by Congress would establish a Farmers’ Loan Waiver Commission. This body would have the authority to recommend loan waivers for farmers in need, aiming to ease their financial burdens. He also vowed to implement Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, ensure financial aid for women and the unemployed, double the salaries of Anganwadi and Asha workers, and abolish the controversial Agniveer Yojana.
“People should vote to save the constitution,” Gandhi urged, accusing the BJP of attempting to alter the country’s foundational document. His rally was a clarion call for voters to reject divisive politics and support policies that prioritize economic justice and social welfare.