Rahul roasts PM Modi for creating ‘pro-rich’ India

Vadodara/Dahod: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of crony capitalism by creating two Indias – one for the rich and the other for poor.
He said that the formula he adopted as Gujarat chief minister is now being implemented in India.
The Gandhi family scion kicked off the Adivsai Satyagrah from tribal-dominated Dahod where he addressed a public meeting.
“The so-called Gujarat Model created two Indias. One India of the select few who love power, money and arrogance. The other India is that of the common man,” he said.
“We don’t want two Indias. We want one nation where all get respect, opportunities, education and health facilities,” Gandhi said.
He added that water, forest and land belonged to all and not any individual, but the tribals never got benefits of these. He reminded the that when the Congress -led UPA was in power, all sections of the society benefited from these resources. Gandhi added that the UPAgovernment had given land back to tribals and stated MNREGA that had benefited crores.
He pointed out that the PM had said in Lok Sabha that he wanted to discontinue MNREGA, but did not do it so that Congress remembers what it did. “But during Covid pandemic, MNREGA was a saviour for many,” he said.
Gandhi also slammed the government for demonetization and hasty GST implementation, which he said benefited the rich only.
Gandhi said that the tribals make the infrastructure of the state, but get nothing in return. Gandhi also criticised Modi over the management of Covid-19 in the country. “During the pandemic, you were asked to beat thaalis and flash your mobile lights. Three lakh people died in Gujarat. The Ganga river was full of bodies. Fifty to 60 lakh people died in the country,” he claimed.
Gandhi also promised to withdraw the Par-Tapi river link project, which has triggered massive protests in South Gujarat, if his party is voted to power. “Here big projects, statues, Tapi river link project are made, your water is snatched away from you and given to the billionaires but you get no benefit. I want to tell you that if the Congress party wins an election, we will scrap this river link project,” Gandhi said.
The tribal belt of Gujarat seems to be the first battleground where political parties are focussing ahead of the assembly polls scheduled later this year. The state has 27 constituencies reserved for candidates from scheduled tribes.