Pulpally/Mananthwady: Attacking Narendra Modi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said that there has never been a “weaker government” and “weaker Prime minister” than the incumbent ones, as she sought to highlight the values and virtues of a true leader.
Campaigning in Wayanad from where her brother and party chief Rahul Gandhi is contesting besides his stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, she sought to know whether suppressing the voice of those who criticise the government’s policies amounts to nationalism. She also alleged that the BJP government had “betrayed” the faith of people, who voted it to power.
Making a strong pitch for her brother, the Congress’ general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East took part in four election rallies in the constituency and met the farmers of Wayanad as thousands of people thronged the meetings.
Her children Miraya and Raihan were also with her.
Addressing a massive rally of farmers at Pulpally, she questioned the nationalism of those who refused to listen to thousands of farmers who had “marched barefoot” to Delhi to highlight their problems.
She said people deserve a Prime Minister who respects them and does not dismiss his own promises casually.
“Sisters and brothers of Wayanad, I have never seen a weaker government, than the government that has been in power for last five years in India.”
“I have never seen a weaker Prime Minister than the Prime Minister of India today. My sisters and brothers, I think you deserve better. I think you deserve a government that speaks for you,” Priyanka Gandhi said.
Continuing to attack Modi, the congress leader claimed the prime minister, who cannot take out one day to visit even a single house in his constituency in five years, does not respect the people of the country.
She said a government which suppresses its own people, that does not allow freedom of speech, or to practice own religion or culture, is not a strong government.
“Weakest of all is the government that divides you instead of uniting. That makes you afraid instead of filling you with courage. That makes you worried of speaking your views in public.That’s the weakest form of governance that could possibly exist,” she said during a rally at Areekode.
She asked the voters of Wayanad to consider democracy and the vote as their weapons.
“The government which does not have the guts to accept the power of its people, it is a weak government and it must be taught a lesson,” she said.
She said if a leader was a true nationalist, he does not spread hate, but spreads love and does not divide but unites.
Attacking the NDA government, she wanted to know if “attempts” to destroy the constitution and weakening institutions that protect rights of people was nationalism.
“When people raise their voice in protest against you, when they criticise your policies…you jail them, beat them.. Is that nationalism?” she asked.
Referring to BJP leaders invoking Pakistan in their election speeches, the congress leader said they never speak of what they were going to do for the people of the country.
Earlier at a rally in Manthawady, she said the saffron party, when it came to power, forgot who gave them the power.
She also found time to meet seven-year-old Naadan, a boy who was seen crying in a video which went viral as he was unable to see Rahul Gandhi when he visited the state earlier. (PTI)
