Rahul Gandhi invokes Gita, explains the way PM Narendra Modi ‘interprets’ it

Having toured Gujarat for the last three days, Rahul said Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh is doing better than BJP-ruled Gujarat. “I will use national figures of Narendra Modi’s government. These are not my statistics… In Himachal, there were more than 60,000 government jobs in the last five years and in Gujarat there were less than 10,000. Please don’t forget how much bigger Gujarat is… Unemployment dole in Himachal is Rs 1,000 and zero in Gujarat,” he said, going on to cite more statistics, which he said he had obtained from government agencies including NITI Aayog.

Among his comparisons, he said: “About the swachhata that Narendra Modi talks about… Himachal ranks number one in swachhata.” And about Gujarat, he said: “For NREGA we gave Rs 35,000 crore… Narendra Modiji gave an identical amount to Tata Nano company …have you seen Nano car on the road? It is Narendra Modi’s model: give more and more to rich people.”

Rahul brought up various scams. “Narendra Modi doesn’t speak a word about Vyapam. Lalit Modiji gives the BJP chief minister’s son crores and then flees to London; Narendra Modi doesn’t speak a word. The world knows about the corruption record of Badalji; Modi doesn’t say anything about it,” he said. “In Bengal, those involved in the Saradha scam are taken into the BJP. (B S) Yeddyurappa is taken into the party and Modi doesn’t say a word.”

He also referred to a Himachal BJP chief minister’s son, whom he didn’t name while accusing him of grabbing the land of the cricket association and being removed from the post by the Supreme Court, but “Narendra Modi doesn’t say a word about it”.

About the allegations against Amit Shah’s son Jay, Rahul said: “In India, there is only one company that can transform Rs 50,000 to Rs 80 crore in months. Modiji comes here and talks about corruption. But, for Amit Shah’s son’s company, not a single word comes out of Narendra Modi,” he said. “Shahzada can swallow everything but not a single word will come from Modiji…. You had said that I am India’s watchman. Please answer how it changed into Rs 80 crore. You are not a watchman, you are a partner.”

Rahul said demonetisation hurt Himachal’s HAT — horticulture, agriculture and tourism. He said the Congress would modify GST if it comes to power in Delhi.

“We had told them to have a single slab, and put a cap of 18%. They replied they would pass GST with five slabs and tax would be upto 28%… We said it could be done in pilot project or on test basis, but they said we will do it in one day,” he said.

Rahul said unemployment was the biggest issue faced by the youth in the country. “Narendra Modi had promised that he would provide employment to 2 crore youth every year…everyone needs employment. GST and demonetisation have ended employment,” he said.

Amid chants for Bali, CM cuts speech short

Shimla, Nagrota: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh cut short his speech in Nagrota after a section of the crowd started chanting for Transport Minister G S Bali as chief minister.

The chief minister had not attended any of Bali’s campaigns so far, but arrived with Rahul Gandhi Monday for a rally organised by the the transport minister in Nagrota Bhagwan, his constituency. Virbhadra Singh began his speech, but was interrupted by a section of the crowd: “Pradesh ka mukhya mantra kaisa ho, Bali jaisa ho.” Bali rose to appeal for silence, urging the crowd to listen to the chief minister, but the slogans continued. Virbhadra tried chiding the crowd by talking about discipline, then abruptly ended his speech with “Jai Hind” and took his seat. The slogans stooped.—ENS