RAJKOT: Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot on Wednesday lashed out at the state BJP government saying that Gujarat was top in the country in 'ease of doing corruption' and not 'ease of doing business'. He also highlighted the 'poor' social development indicators of the state and blamed the BJP government for the mess.
Speaking at Congress organized 'Yuva Samvad' here, the former Union minister also blamed the Union government for higher petrol and diesel prices. He said that if Congress was voted to power in Gujarat, they would reduce the value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel.
"There is no space for discussion or debate under the BJP rule. They (Union government) made a huge mistake with note ban and GST, but they are too proud to accept their fault. People of the country need to ask questions and make them accountable for the blunder," Pilot said.
Accusing the BJP of manipulation on fuel prices, the Congress leader said that though the international crude oil prices have come down from $150 per barrel to around $50 per barrel, the central government was not willing to reduce the prices.
Pilot further said that BJP was not a political party by a cultural wing of the RSS. "The BJP has no idea of its own. All that they have done till now is to copy our ideas — be it Aadhar, foreign direct investment policy or civil nuclear deal with the US. The BJP was the one that had opposed the deal when Dr Manmohan Singh signed the agreement in 2010. But now it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi that is taking credit and embracing US President Donald Trump every other day," Pilot said.
Congress will work on confirming the contractual worker in government office and bring back student elections in state universities, he added.
"The BJP is flustered with the recent developments in Gujarat where government is facing massive unrest. This is the reason they are moving towards Hindutva issue. Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani two days ago made a statement that election will be fought on Hindutva issue. But we are going to contest by highlighting local issues that affect people," Pilot said.
Taking about the falling GDP in Gujarat, Pilot said, "There is no ease of doing business in Gujarat. There is only ease of doing corruption." He claimed that during UPA regime Gujarat's GDP was rising, but with BJP government at Centre, the GSP has come down. He, however, did not give specific figures.
Commenting on allegation that Congress was indulging into caste-based politics, the Congress leader said, "Since over two decades BJP has been power here. Now the communities have so many issues with them. So, how is Congress accountable for the situation created by them."
Without naming Patidar leader Hardik Patel, Pilot said that politics of character assassination was unhealthy for democracy.
Speaking at Congress organized 'Yuva Samvad' here, the former Union minister also blamed the Union government for higher petrol and diesel prices. He said that if Congress was voted to power in Gujarat, they would reduce the value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel.
"There is no space for discussion or debate under the BJP rule. They (Union government) made a huge mistake with note ban and GST, but they are too proud to accept their fault. People of the country need to ask questions and make them accountable for the blunder," Pilot said.
Accusing the BJP of manipulation on fuel prices, the Congress leader said that though the international crude oil prices have come down from $150 per barrel to around $50 per barrel, the central government was not willing to reduce the prices.
Pilot further said that BJP was not a political party by a cultural wing of the RSS. "The BJP has no idea of its own. All that they have done till now is to copy our ideas — be it Aadhar, foreign direct investment policy or civil nuclear deal with the US. The BJP was the one that had opposed the deal when Dr Manmohan Singh signed the agreement in 2010. But now it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi that is taking credit and embracing US President Donald Trump every other day," Pilot said.
Congress will work on confirming the contractual worker in government office and bring back student elections in state universities, he added.
"The BJP is flustered with the recent developments in Gujarat where government is facing massive unrest. This is the reason they are moving towards Hindutva issue. Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani two days ago made a statement that election will be fought on Hindutva issue. But we are going to contest by highlighting local issues that affect people," Pilot said.
Taking about the falling GDP in Gujarat, Pilot said, "There is no ease of doing business in Gujarat. There is only ease of doing corruption." He claimed that during UPA regime Gujarat's GDP was rising, but with BJP government at Centre, the GSP has come down. He, however, did not give specific figures.
Commenting on allegation that Congress was indulging into caste-based politics, the Congress leader said, "Since over two decades BJP has been power here. Now the communities have so many issues with them. So, how is Congress accountable for the situation created by them."
Without naming Patidar leader Hardik Patel, Pilot said that politics of character assassination was unhealthy for democracy.
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