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Kick-starting Congress’ campaign in poll-bound Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), party leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that the BJP-led central government has scrapped the J&K’s statehood to “snatch” the rights and resources of the locals and to benefit outsiders, especially the country’s top “two billionaires” by giving them contracts.
Gandhi, while addressing a rally in Ramban district’s Banihal constituency, claimed that the Congress-National Conference alliance is set to form the government in J&K, which will “pressurise” the Centre to restore the UT’s statehood and ensure that the resources are used for the welfare of local population.
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also assured that the next state government will ensure that state’s contracts are given to locals, government vacancies are filled and wages are increased.
“Joblessness in J&K is worse than what it is across the country,” Gandhi said, accusing Modi of indulging in politics of optics but doing little to solve the unemployment crisis.
It was his first public meeting for the J&K polls.
In his speech, Gandhi said the Opposition INDIA block has shaken Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “confidence”, “denting” him “psychologically”.
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He said the PM had earlier opposed the INDIA bloc’s demand for a nationwide census.
“Now, the RSS has supported caste census,” Gandhi said, adding that the government rolled back its proposed lateral entry scheme, succumbing to the pressure from the INDIA bloc.
Gandhi alleged that the government in New Delhi is run by Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and their corporate friends. He said the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation hurt small businesses to benefit the two billionaires.
“In Parliament, I was told not to name Modi’s corporate friends Adani and Ambani so I have taken to using aliases, such as A1 and A2, for them. This government is akin to ‘hum do, hamare do’ ('we two, our two') -- Modi and Shah, and Ambani and Adani -- these four are running the government,” Gandhi alleged.
The former Congress president said the PM is “scared”.
“Now he (the PM) holds a copy of the Constitution on his head as he enters Parliament,” Gandhi said, adding that the electorate has reminded Modi, who had claimed to be “non-biological” with a direct connection with God, that God listens to the common people and he should too.
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