Priyanka Gandhi targets Modi at Gwalior rally: Didn’t say anything on Manipur for 77 days, then spoke under compulsion

People look for “civility, simplicity and the truth in our politicians”, she said, adding that it was the Prime Minister’s responsibility to maintain political civility.

“Two days ago, there was a big meeting of the Opposition, and the Prime Minister gave a statement that all Opposition leaders and parties are thieves. Such senior leaders, who struggled their whole life for their country, who have respect in the country, who rose in politics by raising the issues of the people – they were insulted by the Prime Minister,” she said.

Referring to the widely circulated video that showed two women being paraded naked and sexually abused by a mob in Manipur, Priyanka said, “Manipur was burning for two months, houses were set on fire, women were being tortured, children had no roof over their heads and our PM Modi did not give any statement for 77 days. Forget taking action, he did not say a single word. He spoke yesterday under compulsion, after a horrifying video went viral.”

She added, “In that statement also, he mixed politics… He even took the name of the Opposition states in his statement.”

Saying that she came to the rally to speak about issues close to the public, and “not to divert attention”, she spoke at length about price rise and its impact on women, who she said “bear the brunt” of it.

She said only 21 government jobs were created in Madhya Pradesh under the Shivraj Singh Chouhan dispensation. This was a “matter of shame”, she added. She also alleged that the nation’s wealth was being given to a few businessmen.

“Because of price rise and unemployment, tensions grow in a society. Atrocities increase when the tensions increase, and atrocities are committed on those who are weak,” she said. She also referred to recent incidents of atrocities against Dalits and tribals in Madhya Pradesh. “Let us not even talk about the women, everyday there is rape. You also hear news of a BJP leaders son whose accused of raping someone,” Priyanka added, referring to a recent allegation against a BJP leader’s son who was booked in a gangrape case in Datia.

At the rally Gwalior, the home turf of Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia whose rebellion in 2020 brought down the Congress government in the state, she said, “This government (the BJP government in the state) was made after overthrowing our government, its foundation itself was wrong. It was a government bought with money, that’s why its intention is wrong. From the start, its focus has been on loot and scams,” Priyanka said.

She also urged people to ask the “right questions” to politicians.

“Ask the politicians why scams are taking place. Ask them if, out of 22,000 announcements that they made, did they even fulfil even 2,000. Why don’t you ask them why the list of scams keeps growing everyday? What is the income of the big businessmen of this country, who have been given your wealth by the government? Let me tell you, one businessman is earning Rs 1,600 crore in a single day. A farmer in this country is unable to earn Rs 27 in a day,” she said.

Congress’s state unit president Kamal Nath alleged that CM Chouhan has built a mountain of lies in Madhya Pradesh.

“For 18 years, the BJP government has troubled every class (of people)…Shivraj Singh has set up a mountain of lies in Madhya Pradesh,” Kamal Nath said.

He said he expected the Congress to get its biggest win margin from the Gwalior-Chambal belt. “Shivraj ji, what did you give us in 18 years? You gave us price rise, unemployment, and corruption… There are over 2,500 scams in Madhya Pradesh. Shivraj Singh gave us mafia raj and gave liquor to every household,” he alleged.