Gwalior: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of playing the politics of arrogance that turns a Nelson’s eye to internal disturbances and skyrocketing prices while handing over the nation’s assets to a handful of his tycoon friends.
Addressing a Jan Aakrosh Maharally in Gwalior that is considered Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s ‘citadel’, the visiting leader said, “It is the Prime Minister’s responsibility to maintain political civility. In the wake of the Opposition parties’ meeting at Bengaluru, the PM denounced all opposition leaders and parties as thieves! These personages are state representatives who advanced in the political arena by raising issues of the people.”
“Manipur is burning for months, atrocities are being perpetrated against women and there is no shelter. For 77 long days, there was no statement in this context by the PM, let alone action. On Thursday, compulsion made him break his silence but he spoke a single sentence adulterated with politics,” she further said.
During her 33-minute-long address, Priyanka said, “The back-breaking price rise is the titanic issue and it’s not merely about foodstuff – tomatoes are selling for Rs 150 per kg. Repairing your dwellings is expensive, children’s fees are exorbitant and there is no money even to purchase medicine. I simply do not comprehend as to how you manage. My sisters, cooking oil and gas are so dear that I wonder how you wake up and face the next day? A certain business magnate raked in Rs 1,600 crore within a day whereas the cultivator does not even earn Rs 27. I think it is proper that in every election, leaders visiting each locality or village are made to answer for inflation and unemployment.”
Turning her gun on the Agniveer Yojana, she said that the Army is a source of livelihood for many and underlined the fact that Gwalior division produces numerous gallant personnel.
“I interacted with some youngsters from Haryana who said that youths are quitting in the training phase itself as they wonder why they should undergo such hardship if they shall be rendered jobless just four years later. The agrarian sector also would not serve as a panacea,” Mrs Priyanka observed.
In the context of Madhya Pradesh, she mentioned the patwari scam, the fact that the Kamal Nath dispensation was brought down by subterfuge and said that even Mahakal Lok fell victim to corruption.
Priyanka urged Congress state President Nath to eventually enhance pension for the differently able from the present figure of Rs 600.
Of the 230 Assembly seats in election-bound Madhya Pradesh, 34 are occupied by representatives from Gwalior and Chambal divisions. (with UNI inputs)