Return salvo: Rahul calls for ‘BJP mukt M’laya’

TURA: Not only was he dressed like a seer — in white — but also chose to speak like one. Arriving a couple of days after Jonathone Sangma’s tragic death shocked the Garo Hills and just a day after the Congress government in the state was accused of lawlessness by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi made no claims and, surprisingly, no promises during his daylong campaign in the Garo Hills on Tuesday.
Instead he followed the time-tested adage of offence is the best defence and chose to do what he does best — attack the BJP from all fronts.
BJP baiter
Just as the BJP had called for a ‘Congress mukt’ India before the 2014 general elections, Rahul returned the salvo by appealing to voters to ensure a ‘BJP mukt’ Meghalaya in the February 27 elections.
“This election is very crucial not just for the people of Meghalaya but the nation as a whole because the entire country is watching where Meghalaya will go. A BJP victory will encourage the RSS and the BJP to further fragment society. It is time to seriously ponder. The decision of Meghalaya will have an impact all over India,” cautioned Rahul during his speech at a rally in Garobadha, 30 km from Tura.
The Congress president charged the BJP with dividing society along communal and religious lines to further its agenda as dictated by the RSS from its headquarters in Nagpur.
“Narendra Modi speaks about ‘vikas’, but where is it? Look at all the states ruled by the BJP. There is no proper education and no healthcare facilities. They are only instigating one community and religion against another,” alleged the Gandhi scion as he highlighted attacks on churches in Madhya Pradesh and assault on Dalits in Jharkhand, among other violent incidents of intolerance.
From the absconding diamond merchant Nirav Modi, who swindled several thousand crores to the allegedly sponsored facelift for churches in the North-East, which was turned down by the state’s religious heads, Rahul condemned every act.
“In Meghalaya, MLAs are being lured with money by the BJP. From where are they getting so much money to spend? It belongs to the common man which has been stolen by people like Nirav Modi. The Prime Minister had told the nation that he would be a watchman for the people of the country and yet he couldn’t prevent the theft of their hard- earned money,” mocked Rahul while pointing to the latest PNB fraud that hit headlines.
He expressed his gratitude to church leaders in Meghalaya for turning down the central government’s attempt to provide a financial package to churches in the name of tourism.
“The people of Meghalaya have given a resounding ‘NO’ to attempts by the BJP and have showed that they cannot be bought,” said Rahul to a huge round of applause.
From the plight of farmers and Modi’s ‘achhe din’ to Aadhaar card, everything received at best a comment, at worst a censure from Rahul.
He accused the Modi government of making Aadhaar mandatory for bank accounts and registration of mobile SIM cards as a means of surveillance of citizens and as infringement of the right to privacy.
“Modi started Swachh Bharat but failed to clean India. He came up with ‘Make in India’ but manufacturing continues to take place in countries like China, Malaysia and Vietnam. What is the success story then?” asked Rahul as he highlighted the hardships faced by the common people after the Centre’s demonetisation drive.
Pat on Mukul’s back
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma must be an elated soul after the encouraging pat on the back he received from the party president.
Congratulating the CM on his development record, Rahul said, “The chief minister has ushered in an era of unprecedented growth and prosperity. You have one of the most hardworking CMs in the country. Gone are the days of bandhs, strikes and violent activities. This atmosphere of peace and stability has bought development and good governance. Before saying anything against the Meghalaya government, BJP leaders should remember that Meghalaya’s growth rate is higher than Gujarat’s.”
Underlining the achievements of the state government, he said, “Meghalaya has emerged as the most literate state in India with the highest ratio of female enrolment in primary schools in the entire country. The state government has created a tremendous road network. The Tura-Shillong Highway is there for everyone to see.
Touching upon the contentious NGT ban on coal mining in the state, the Congress president said, “The Congress has fought against the NGT order on coal mining using traditional methods but the BJP government at the Centre has refused to amend the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to help the local people who lost their incomes. The Congress government has actively promoted horticulture in areas where mining took place. The locals have thus been provided with an alternate source of income.”
The Integrated Basin Development Livelihood Promotion, also known as Basin skill development, has been streamlined to empower the people in becoming self-reliant, he pointed out.
“Keeping in mind respect and dignity for women in Meghalayan society, the ‘Basin programme’ has tried to reach out to the women of Meghalaya through skill impartment and training,” he added.
Rahul asserted that while several BJP states were trying to dilute the RTI, Meghalaya went a step further and passed a law to conduct social audits of government departments.
“Now you can not only get information but go a step further and hold the government accountable,” he told the gathering.
People’s leader
Earlier in the day, he addressed a similar rally at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills to drum up support for Congress candidates in the district.
It seemed Tuesday was a day when nothing could go wrong with the Gandhi scion. He chose to don the mantle of the mass leader, stopping to interact with excited people on the way during his road show in Tura, which started from the Dobasipara helipad all the way through the main thoroughfares of the town to his hotel in Dakopgre.
Scores of people, young and old alike, eagerly awaited his arrival and he did not disappoint them, getting off his vehicle several times on the way to shake hands with eager supporters.
He was accompanied by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and scores of SPG personnel who had a trying time managing the crowds jostling to shake hands with the young leader of the oldest political party in the country.