Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday ridiculed the World Bank's latest 'upgrade' to India on ease of doing business, saying there is no ease of doing business for small traders in the aftermath of the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Addressing a rally at Jambusar in South Gujarat under his 'Navsarjan Gujarat' rally, Gandhi said, "One international organisation recently said India has improved on the 'ease of doing business' front. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sits in his chamber and listens to such outsiders. I request him to come out of his chamber and spend a few minutes with small traders for their feedback on 'ease of doing business'."
"There is no ease of doing business for small traders after the note-bandhi and GST rollout. This has caused massive damage to small businesses, which are the backbone of the country and Gujarat," Rahul said, addressing a crowd of farmers and small traders.
On the third leg of the 'Navsarjan Gujarat' campaign from November 1 to 3, the Congress Vice-President would cover the districts of Bharuch, Tapi, Navsari, Valsad and Surat in the South Gujarat region. The Congress is trying to cover maximum ground in the region, which has a large population of tribals, a traditional stronghold of the Congress.
Rahul arrived at Vadodara airport on Wednesday morning and later embarked on the specially designed coach for the campaign, which would takem him to remote locations in the state.
Gujarat election in-charge and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said there was a strong undercurrent against the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). To this, Rahul stated that the BJP will soon experience the current.
"Gujarat has shown the way to the nation. In the past, you have given leaders like Gandhiji and Sardar. You have the strength to show the way to the country. This strength is being used to benefit select industrialists. A Congress government in the state will use your strength for your welfare and not for the industrialists," Rahul said.
Earlier, on the first leg of the Navsarjan Gujarat rally from September 25-27, Rahul visited the Saurashtra region, covering politically crucial districts and engaging with farmers and youth. On the second leg, he covered the Central Gujarat region of Vadodara, Kheda, Chhota Udepur and Panchmahal districts from October 9-11.
As a poll strategy for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, the state Congress unit has created four campaign segments, with Gandhi campaigning in each segment for three days.