It was his last public rally before officially becoming the Congress president and Rahul Gandhi was the picture of confidence on Thursday. He was scathing in his attack on the Narendra Modi government and was critical of the state government, though in a milder manner. He was also very deft in differentiating the welcoming openness of Congress party and the “fascist” BJP.
Rahul was addressing the concluding function of the anti-government yatra led by the state unit of the Congress party.
Stating that the Modi government is facing a credibility crisis, Rahul said: “Three years before, a lot of people believed Modi ji; they thought he meant what he said... People still listen to him; but no longer trust his words,'' he said.
Touching upon the demonetisation, Rahul said that it has resulted in lots of misery for the common man. “While the common man was standing in ques before banks, black money hoarders entered the banks through back doors and turned all their black money into white,'' he said.
He also blamed the government for the messing up of GST and also alleged corruption in the Rafael deal.
Rahul, through out his speech, tried to differentiate him and Modi and also congress and the BJP. “No matter how badly the BJP or its leaders talk about the Congress party, Manmohan Singh ji or myself, we will not resort to the same language. We are not BJP, we will not speak the same language of hatred and divisiveness,'' he said.
Though he did say that the state government has not lived up to the expectations of the people of the state, Rahul was careful not to go overboard in his criticism of the CPI(M)-led government.
But he sternly asked the CPI(M) to come out clear on its policy towards the Congress. Asking the CPI(M) whether it is really keen to fight the fascist forces in the country, Rahul asked: “Do you accept that BJP is the number one enemy? Please come out clear on that subject at national level.''
He was alluding to the split within the CPI(M) regarding its approach towards Congress at the national level.
“Not standing in unison against the BJP means only one thing—that you are supporting the BJP,'' he said.
What was most significant about Rahul's speech on Thursday was the fact that the Congress president-elect did not utter a single word about Gujarat elections. This is despite the fact that every single leader who spoke during the function talked as if Gujarat is already in the Congress kitty.
During the two hour long function, Rahul was seen checking his phone frequently. Interestingly, it was the time the exit poll results of Gujarat were being coming out.
All the national and state level leaders who spoke touted Rahul as their “only hope''. “He is the only hope for secularism and only hope for the poor in the country,'' Mukul Wasnik said.
These words were echoed by all the leaders of Congress and other constituents of the UDF.
Earlier the day, Rahul had visited the coastal villages of the state which was affected by the recent cyclone, Ockhi.
