A day after he addressed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Masood Azhar with the honorific ‘ji’ suffix, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a frontal attack on Narendra Modi stating that the Prime Minister had addressed the industrialist Anil Ambani and scamsters Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi as his ‘ bhais’ (brothers).

Addressing a massive public meeting after the CWC meeting on Modi’s home turf, the Congress President referred to the Rafale controversy, saying, unlike the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Ambani had never made an aircraft, “not even of paper”, but Modi “stole” ₹30,000 crore from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to pay the industrialist who was burdened with a ₹45,000-crore debt. “In 2014, Modi had assured you he was a chowkidar ”, Gandhi said, amid chants of chor, chor , from the crowd.

Without naming the Adanis, Gandhi also asked why the Modi government gave away management of five airports on the day the terrorists attacked the CRPF convoy at Pulwama.

Charging the PM with a daily dose of “falsehoods” and going back on promises, he reminded the people how they had been given short-shrift by the BJP government, which not only failed to fulfil any of its promises to the farmers, unemployed youth and others but had also plunged them into joblessness through the “unilateral” policies such as demonetisation and the GST. “If the Congress comes to power, it will reform the GST into a single-tax regime.”

India is suffering from the worst state of unemployment in 45 years, he added.

On the other hand, he said, the Congress fulfilled its promise of farm-loan waiver in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh soon after it had formed the governments recently. “The Modi government waived ₹3.5 crore debt of 15 rich businessmen, but not a rupee was for farmers.”

“We do not want an India like this. We would not let it become such a country,” he asserted, and reiterated that the Congress party, if it came to power, will take a “historic decision” to ensure a minimum guaranteed income to all the poor.

Priyanka pitches in

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged the people to be aware of the power of their vote and use it as a weapon for a regime change, in such a way that it does not hurt anyone.

“Don’t get bogged down in useless issues. Vote to elect your future. Be aware of what the government has done for the youth and the farmers. Take every decision cautiously.”

Earlier, the CWC leaders, including UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh, went to Gandhi Ashram and participated in an all-religion prayer. They also visited the Gandhi Museum and the Martyrs’ Memorial.

The CWC event, held in Gujarat after 58 years, appeared high on symbolism as the party tried to reclaim the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel who have been ‘appropriated’ by the BJP in recent years. Rahul Gandhi began his address saying Gujarat was chosen because Gandhiji and Patel led the freedom movement from this State.

Hardik Patel joins Cong

Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel was finally inducted into the Congress by Rahul Gandhi at the podium.

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