Patamda: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has plans to privatise the coal sector to benefit a few industrialists at the cost of the people.
“The Congress nationalised the coal sector to give benefits to the people of the state while the BJP government has planned to privatise it to extend benefits to a select few industrialists,” Gandhi claimed.
Addressing a poll meeting here in support of her candidate from Jugsalai (SC) Dulal Bhuyan, Gandhi further alleged that the Modi government harbours plans to “weaken” the Right to Information Act, MGNREGA and Land Acquisition Act.
The previous UPA government, she added, enacted the acts in the interest of tribals and dalits. Flaying Modi on the tribal issue, Gandhi alleged that “the BJP does exactly the opposite to what it says.
“Gujarat has eight per cent tribal population, but a majority of them were displaced because of the state government’s acquisition of land to extend benefit to capitalists,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi appealed to the people to give the Congress a majority this time as the BJP-led governments had “looted” Jharkhand while promising development in the mineral-rich state if voted to power. “We are committed to serve the interests of the tribals and others. We need your support by giving the Congress majority,” Gandhi said ahead of the second of the five-phase elections scheduled on December 2 for 20 constituencies.
The AICC President said Modi had promised to the nation during Lok Sabha poll campaigns that he would bring back black money stashed in overseas banks within 100 days of forming a government but he failed.
“He has failed to bring back black money, check inflation, generating employment opportunities,” she said while commenting on the six-month performance of Modi regime.
Even the cost of life saving medicines were enhanced to the extend to benefit the private companies, she said alleging that BJP never cared for the poor whereas Congress always valued people from across the society including adivasis and dalits without differentiating among them.
It was the Congress which has enacted laws to protect the interest of the tribals over Forest land while BJP intends to snatch the powers of Gram Sabha by bringing amendments in it, Gandhi said.
BJP had been highlighting the issue of corruption but trying to weaken the RTI, framed by UPA government, to protect the accused, she said, adding that while RTI has helped check the corruption, it had also punished the culprits.
Sonia said if 100 days were less time for Modi to bring back the black money, he should have initiated steps to address the issues as unemployment, plights of the women and tribal community. (PTI)