Congress will win 2019 elections, says Rahul Gandhi at Jan Aakrosh rally

Congress President Rahul Gandhi launched his party’s 2019 election campaign at a public rally in the national capital on Sunday, insisting that the grand old party will return to power in the next general elections.

“Congress surpassed the expectations in Gujarat assembly election and you all will witness the change in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan where we will win followed by the 2019 general elections. The Congress workers will not leave the side of truth,” he said at the Jan Aakrosh Rally, his first in Delhi since taking over as the party chief.

He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a range of issues, accusing him of having double standards on corruption, messing up the economy, undermining democratic institutions and failing to provide safety for women.

“PM Modi goes to Karnataka and talks about corruption. On the stage he is accompanied by his CM candidate Yeddyurappa who was jailed for corruption,” he said. “The money from the pockets of Indians goes to Nirav Modi who evades justice and settles in London, but this government said nothing.”

Gandhi also attacked Modi for his silence on farmers’ distress and the judicial crisis in the Supreme Court.

“Normally, the public goes to the judges for justice, but for the first time in 70 years Supreme Court judge came to public, but Modi Ji is silent,” Gandhi said. “I met PM Modi myself and asked him to waive off farm loans. He refused and said that waiving off farm loans is not their policy.”

He also took a swipe at the prime minister for rising unemployment in the country.

“He had promised employment to two lakh people every year. People trusted him. But after four years what we have is widespread unemployment. Measures like demonetisation and the Gabbar Singh Tax (GST) have broken the back of the informal sector.”

He also questioned the PM’s silence at the ‘takeover’ of democratic institutions by the RSS.

“The RSS is slowly taking over our democratic institutions and destroying them from within while Modi watches silently,” Gandhi said.

Without naming Kathua and Unnao, Gandhi attacked Modi over the law and order situation and pointed that even when a BJP MLA was involved in one of the crimes, the Prime Minister chose to remain silent.

“PM Modi says Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Ironically, the members of his own party are assaulting women,” he said.

Gandhi also flayed Modi for his China policy and for meeting President Xi Jingping without an agenda.

“The Chinese are aggressively pursuing militarisation in Doklam. Despite this, all that PM Modi does is hold a ‘no-agenda’ meeting with the Chinese President.”

Earlier, former Congress chief and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also mounted a sharp attack on the Modi government at the Jan Akrosh rally here, charging that the roots of corruption have become stronger in the NDA regime.

Hitting out at Prime Minister Modi, she questioned what happened to his “Na khaoonga, na khane doonga” (will not engage in corruption myself, nor allow others) slogan.

She charged the government with muzzling dissenting voices, weakening institutions and dividing communities eyeing poll gains.

“It is saddening to see that our society is suffering from unprecedented violence and hatred today. People from every section of society are suffering. The nation is going through turbulent times under PM Mod,” the UPA chairperson said.

She called for unity to fight against the NDA and its policies.

“Our country is going through a difficult time. We must all unite and stay alert to fight against this regime,” Sonia Gandhi said.