Centre’s policies meant to benefit rich people, not poor: Priyanka Gandhi

Jaipur, Sep 10: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra flayed the BJP-led government at the Centre on Sunday, saying its policies are meant to benefit the rich and not the poor.
Addressing a Congress rally at Niwai in Tonk district in poll-bound Rajasthan, Priyanka Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi goes on foreign trips and strikes deals for his “industrialist friends”.
“Modi comes back from abroad and says our (India’s) respect has gone up. Later, we get to know that he made deals for his industrialist friends,” she said.
For everything, he keeps the interests of his industrialist friends above that of the public, she said.
The Congress general secretary alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) only focus is to remain in power, whereas the poor and middle class are being neglected.
Referring to “waterlogging” at the venue of the G20 Summit in Delhi, she took a swipe at the prime minister and said, “Perhaps, the god has said what the people of our country are not able to say out of fear — reduce your ego, this country has made you a leader, put the country first, make the people supreme.” The Assembly polls in Rajasthan are due later this year.
The Congress leader said politicians should have the same kind of respect for people that people display when they go to temples.
“It is important for the public and the leaders to understand this. When people assume power, their ambitions get ahead of them,” she said.
Gandhi said the BJP leaders have become so arrogant that they have forgotten these things.
She said when houses were damaged due to rain in Himachal Pradesh, the price of cement, needed to re-construct the structures, was increased by the Adani Group and the rates of apples were decreased when farmers went to sell those. She alleged that this happened at the behest of the prime minister. “The prime minister, who used to call himself a ‘bhumiputra’, is moving in a convoy worth crores,” Priyanka Gandhi said.
The Congress leader said the oil companies have made huge profits, but the prices of fuel are still very high and inflation is skyrocketing. She said when people were struggling with inflation, the Rajasthan government organised relief camps. “Why has this situation arisen in the country that the state government had to organise inflation relief camps? Why is fuel so expensive when the companies are earning profits? You will have to raise these questions,” she said.
Gandhi also hit out at the Modi government over the Agniveer scheme for recruitment into the armed forces.
“The BJP government has taken away your rights in eight years. Pensions have been cut, the chances of Army recruitment have disappeared. He (Modi) has brought the Agniveer scheme and is moving in big convoys himself,” she said.
Gandhi highlighted the schemes and programmes of the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan and said people should choose a government that works for them and not those who seek votes in the name of castes and religions. (PTI)