Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s poll speeches as mere ‘hollow talk’ and urged him to learn his lessons from the life of her grandmother and former PM Indira Gandhi, who divided Pakistan in two.
Addressing a poll rally in Maharashtra’s tribal-dominated Nandurbar constituency for the party’s candidate Gowaal Padvi, a day after PM Modi’s rally, the Congress general secretary accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of disregarding the culture and traditions of tribals and questioned Mr. Modi’s sincerity towards issues such as women’s safety and empowerment.
Drawing on her family’s legacy, she spoke about Indira Gandhi’s approach towards the welfare of common people and contrasted it with Mr. Modi’s allegedly self-serving politics.
“All that Modiji speaks is khokhli baatein [hollow talk] that carry no weight. Yesterday, he said he respects Shabri. So why was he silent when several Shabris suffered atrocities in Unnao and Hathras? Why didn’t he raise a finger when women wrestlers were on the streets protesting against the harassment, but the BJP gave the ticket to the son of the accused person,” she said referring to BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing sexual harassment charges.
“What kind of leader do you want? The one who walks for 4,000 km and comes to you to understand your problems or a leader on whose kurta you will not find marks of dust and is scared to come near you. Do you want a leader who wipes your tears or the one who sheds crocodile tears on stage? Do you want a leader who is fearless and speaks the truth irrespective of the pressure or the one who lies throughout,” she asked.
She also asked people if they wanted politics of principles, service and dedication or politics of power and self-glory.
Invoking her family’s old ties with Nandurbar, she said her grandmother Indira Gandhi always began her election campaigns from this place. “She would preserve whatever you gave to her out of love. My mother learnt how to respect you from Indira Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi worked to safeguard your rights over water and forests. Indira Gandhi used to visit people’s houses with bowed head to understand their problems. Rahul Gandhi went across the country to understand people’s aspirations and feelings. But show me one photograph of Modi ji visiting the houses of tribals and poor people to understand their problems. He comes to you only to achieve his political motives,” Ms. Vadra said, adding that if the PM said ₹15 lakh would be deposited in your bank accounts and two crore people would get employment, it should have been done in 10 years.
She said that the BJP does not have any respect towards the cultures and traditions of tribals. “President Droupadi Murmu, who belongs to the Adivasi community, was neither allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament building nor participate in the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. When it comes to actually giving respect, Modiji backs out,” she alleged.
