Ending his months-long campaigning in Gujarat, Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence in Ahmedabad on Tuesday that the Congress would win the polls. The Gandhi scion, who is slated to officially take over party chief post on December 16, termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's seaplane flight as a “political distraction”.
Modi on Tuesday took off from Sabarmati Riverfront in a seaplane to Dharoi Dam and from there he went by road to Ambaji temple in North Gujarat. The BJP has claimed that this is for the first time that seaplane has landed on Indian waters.
Addressing his first press conference after being elected Congress president, Rahul said the issue is about Gujarat. “If Modiji wants to go in a seaplane, it is good, a good decision. (But) It's a distraction. The main question is that what has been done for the youth in the last 22 years. Are there doctors in hospitals? Yes or no? You have to spend Rs 15 lakh in colleges. Yes or no? Are there 30 lakh unemployed youth in Gujarat? Yes or no? Have you discussed Jay Shah, Amit Shah and Rafale deal? Yes or no? These are the issues of Gujarat,” he said.
Rahul has asked 14 questions to Modi through his official twitter page during his election campaign in Gujarat.
“Our main argument has been that in the last 22 years, Modiji and Vijay Rupani have done one sided development and people have not got what they should have got. This is what people have told us,” he held.
Rahul said that the Congress would take Gujarat forward in a balanced manner. “We have spoken about interest waiver for farmers, Sardar Patel Health Card, getting nurses and doctors in hospitals,” he said.
“Rs 1.30 crore of 10 people have been waived, but when farmers talk about loan waiver, you (BJP) say it is not in your policy,” said Rahul.
The Congress leader said that no decision would be taken without consulting people. He said that in the last three to four months, Congress has attempted to give vision to Gujarat and take people of all sections of the society together. “Yes, it is a different thing that Patidars, dalits and tribals are angry. Patidars are asking why Modiji did not come to us when our men were killed. Similar, questions are being raised by the dalits. You supported a few corporates,” he said.
Rahul, however, preferred not to answer the question on how Patidars would be given reservation. After saying that it was in their manifesto, he passed on the question to Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki to answer the finer details.
He asked people to compare the minimum support prices of crops during the UPA rule and the BJP rule.
Rahul said that this time around even the BJP people are saying that the Congress is fighting the elections unitedly. “The elections are won on narratives, issues. The one who maintains the narratives wins the election. BJP has not been able to build a narrative,” he said.
He alleged that BJP has not been able to maintain its own position. The prime minister has been talking either about Congress or himself, he said, alleging that after Jay Shah's name and Rafale deal came up, he (Modi) has stopped talking about corruption.
Alleging that there is hollowness in the BJP, Rahul said Modi and the ruling party are scared of a discussion on Jay Shah and Rafale deal and hence the winter session has not begun so far.
Claiming that there was a severe undercurrent in Gujarat, Rahul said that the result would be “terrific”. He said that all communities are angry with the state government.
Congress party has understood its strength in 22 years and has stood up against the BJP, he said.
Replying to a question, Rahul mentioned about action taken against Mani Shankar Aiyar for the latter's remarks on Modi. “I have said I will not tolerate this and you have seen the action,” he said. “What Modiji spoke about Manmohan Singhji is also not acceptable. He was also the PM of India. He worked for India,” said Rahul.
Rahul took on his critics about his visits to temples. He said that wherever he has gone to the temple, he has talked about the golden future for the youth and the farmers. “Is going to the temples barred,” he asked.
He said that as Congress president, his priority is to strengthen the party organisation. “We have taken a big step in Gujarat and you will see it in election,” he said. Rahul said that he wanted to change the nature of the political discourse; thoughts had become ugly, nasty; there is a lot of anger. “I want to spread in the country the Congress ideology and the nature of work. Politics should happen with love. Modiji is our political opponent. He says a lot of wrong things about me. He is the Prime Minister of India and I will not speak any wrong word against him,” he said.
Rahul said that during these few months, Gujarat had given him lots of love, which he would not forget. “You just need to call me and I will be there,” he said.
The police did not give permission to Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi for roadshows in Ahmedabad on the last day of campaigning on Tuesday. While Modi went to Ambaji in a seaplane, Rahul visited the famous Lord Jagganath Temple in Ahmedabad and later met the media. Before leaving for New Delhi from Ahmedabad airport, he also met family members of a martyr, whose daughter was pulled up by police when she had gone to make a representation during one of the meetings addressed by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
