Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday lashed out at the BJP, saying the ruling party at the Centre was dividing the nation and trying to create different entities for the rich and the poor.
He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of destroying the country’s economy, which he said was strengthened by the previous UPA government.
Addressing a public rally near Beneshwar Dham in tribal-dominated Banswara district in southern Rajasthan, Mr. Gandhi said the nation was at present witnessing a clash between two ideologies. “The Congress wants to move forward while connecting with all, whereas the BJP works to divide, crush and suppress [the people],” he said.
Mr. Gandhi arrived in Banswara to lay the foundation stone for a high-level bridge at Beneshwar Dham and address a rally after his party’s three-day ‘Chintan Shivir’ in Udaipur. He said the BJP was working to remove the history and culture of tribals while helping out big industrialists.
“We extend a helping hand to the weaker sections and they assist selected top industrialists,” Mr. Gandhi said. He accused the BJP of ruining the economy by its actions such as demonetisation and wrong implementation of Goods and Services Tax. The UPA had worked hard to strengthen the economy, but Mr. Modi had caused immense damage to the economic system.
The Congress leader held the BJP government at the Centre responsible for creating a situation in which employment was scarce for the youth and inflation was rising. He said the contentious farm laws were repealed after protests and alleged that a few industrialists would have benefited from these legislations.
Mr. Gandhi laid emphasis on the “deep and prolonged relations” of the Congress with the tribals and said the UPA government had brought historic laws to protect forest, water and land rights of tribals. “We ensured self-governance of the people in scheduled areas, protected the forest produce and brought fair compensation and transparency to land acquisition and rehabilitation,” he said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the Congress government in the State had accorded the highest priority to public welfare and social security. The four Budgets presented since the formation of the Congress government in 2018 had measures to promote healthcare and education and strengthen our infrastructures.
The high-level bridge at Beneshwar Dham at the trijunction of Mahi, Jakham and Som rivers will be constructed at a cost of ₹132 crore, resting on 36 pillars at a height of 18.50 metres from the river level. It will facilitate access for pilgrims to Beneshwar Dham from Dungarpur-Banswara road in all seasons of the year.
