5 min readFeb 17, 2026 12:22 PM IST
First published on: Feb 17, 2026 at 11:57 AM IST
THE STATE Congress leaders targeted the BJP government both in Gujarat and the Centre on the first day of Gujarat Assembly’s Budget session on Monday in Gandhinagar.
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the gathering at the ‘Jan Aakrosh Sabha’ and ‘MNREGA Bachao Sangram’ the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and Organisation In-charge Mukul Wasnik said that the PM has not made the country “atmanirbhar” (self reliant) but US-nirbhar (US dependent).
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made India dependent on America instead of making India self-reliant. America has made a tariff deal with India. As per this trade deal, the US has imposed 18 tariffs on India while India has imposed zero tariffs on it. Imagine what will happen to Indian farmers once the entire agriculture produce of the US will be exported and sold in India. Similarly, women are being harassed, youths are poor and unemployed, corruption is at its peak but the BJP-led governments are in deep sleep. Our fight will continue in the future till the BJP-led government is removed from Gujarat and I appeal to everyone to support us in this fight,” Wasnik said.
Congress leaders also claimed that the party would start 2027 Assembly election preparations early, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at the helm.
Former MLA Mahesh Vasava, who recently joined the Congress, addressed the gathering and said, “We have been struggling for water, forests and land for years. The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the past 32 years and at the Centre for the past eleven years… needs to be uprooted and thrown away. It is apparently an RSS-led government that talks about abolishing the constitution. The tribal belt from Umargam to Ambaji is still waiting for water-both irrigation and drinking. Our struggle will continue. In 2027, Gandhinagar will be ruled by Congress.”
Congress MLA Anant Patel gave a call to march towards the Gujarat Assembly seeking answers to the injustice meted out to the community and said, “Today, we should march against injustice, unfair treatment of tribal areas and tribals by the ruling party. Government officials are not ready to meet us whenever we approach them with our issues and our lands have been encroached upon.”
The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee will struggle until the Bhupendra Patel-led BJP government is removed from power in Gujarat, reiterated Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Chavda adding that fear, injustice and hardship have increased in the lives of the common people under the rule of the BJP in Gujarat for the past three decades.
“Today, the state is facing the bitter truth hidden behind the claims of development. The people of Gujarat gave a majority to the government with trust and hope, but today people are deprived of basic needs like employment, agriculture, education, health and security. In every village, corruption worth crores of rupees is seen in MNREGA and Nal Se Jal schemes. BJP leaders have converted Nal Se Jal Scheme into Nal Se Dhan Scheme. Tribal youth are suffering from unemployment, farmers are drowning in debt, women’s safety is at risk. BJP government bulldozed the houses of the middle-poor class,” Chavda alleged.
Assuring the gathering that the Congress would continue fighting for people’s rights, Chavda said, “Rahul Gandhi’s warriors will fight for you on the streets and in the Assembly. If necessary, we will also bear lathi and bullets.”
Raising the issues of tribals, the Legislative Assembly Congress Party leader Dr Tushar Chaudhary said that people who have considered the forest as their home for generations, who earn their living from the forest, are today being prevented from entering the forest. “One engine increases prices and the other commits corruption. If there has been real development, why do 3.65 crore people of the state have to be given free food grains?”, he questioned further citing the incidents of several district collectors being investigated and charged with corruption.
Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar challenged the BJP and said that if it has really given good governance for 30 years, then try conducting the upcoming local body elections with ballot papers. He alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party was the ‘B team’ of the BJP.
Banaskantha MP Geniben Thakor, in his address, said that the Aakrosh movement started from Banaskantha and till now the the party has completed a journey of around 5,000 km Geniben added, “We have gone from village to village and heard the real problems of the people. The public outcry is now at its peak.”
She raised the issue of alcohol, drugs and the “inaction” of the administrative system.
Our fight will continue in the future till the BJP-led government is removed from Gujarat and I appeal to everyone to support us in this fight,” Wasnik said. (file) 
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