Gujarat shining only for industrialists: Rahul

Taking a cue from AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s recent political ‘carpet bombing’ in Gujarat, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday blasted BJP Prime Ministerial aspirant Narendra Modi saying India does not need a ‘chowkidar’ who takes the poor man’s land and doles it out to industrialists.

Addressing a largely-attended public meeting at Balasinor in the newly-carved Mahisagar district in Central Gujarat — globally known for the discovery of dinosaur-era fossils — he referred to (without naming Modi), the Gujarat Chief Minister’s oft-repeated statement that he (Modi) was a trustee of the people, a ‘chowkidar’ (watchman) of the Indian treasury, and said this ‘chowkidari’ is actually a ‘theft.’

Targeting the BJP Government, he said it has acquired thousands of acres of land without giving anything in return to the people. “Did you get the jobs? Do you see Nano (car) on the roads?” he asked, amid applause. In Gujarat, the BJP’s BPL is worth ₹11/day; still it claims that Gujarat is shining.

Empowerment Gandhi maintained that Gujarat is shining only for 10-15 big industrialists whose aircraft, palatial houses and limousines are all shining, not for the lives of the common people. “We don’t market ourselves at public expense.” Unless the poor man’s house shines, India cannot shine.

“India has seen many a chowkidar. The British tried to be our watchmen; we threw them out. India does not need any individual chowkidar. The Congress wants to make all the people the country’s watchmen by empowering them,” he said in his half-an-hour meeting. Tearing into the “Gujarat model” of development, Gandhi said even as a student in Delhi, he was aware of Amul products, a revolution brought about by the State’s women, inspired by Sardar Patel. The State was developed by the toil of these women and others like diamond industry workers. “A true, humble leader is one who patiently listens to the people, instead of delivering speeches.”

Without naming anyone, he said while Mahatma Gandhi belonged to this category, others such as Hitler claimed all knowledge and power and thought others were fools.

“Those who are now making a statue of Patel (Statue of Liberty) should first at least read a few pages of the Sardar’s life and times. They once opposed the building of Sardar Patel Airport in Ahmedabad and now the same people are building his statue.”

He reminded the people that Patel had dubbed the RSS ideology as “poisonous” that would destroy the Indian soul. He said when the Congress introduced computers, some top BJP leaders opposed it claiming it would reduce job opportunities. But the same leaders later adopted computers.

“Ten years from now, they would even claim credits for introduction of MGNREGA and the Right to Food, although they currently oppose it.”

Congress’ plans About the Congress’ plans, Gandhi said it wanted to guarantee a right to food for 80 crore people and uplift 70 crore people from below the poverty line. Also, the industrial corridors proposed between the four metropolitan cities would create lakhs of jobs for the youth.

He also questioned the BJP for retaining three corrupt ministers in Gujarat, having no RTI Commissioners nor Lok Ayukta, opposing six anti-corruption Bills in Parliament and sticking to the Reddy brothers in Karnataka.

COMMENT NOW