‘Economic storm coming, where is PM Modi,’ asks Rahul Gandhi at AICC meet

Modi had succumbed to pressure from US President Donald Trump on the imposition of tariffs, Gandhi said. “Earlier, Narendra Modi hugged (Donald Trump) in the US… This time, did you see a photograph of him hugging?… President Trump, whom Modi calls his friend, ordered that there will be no hugging, this time we will impose new tariffs. He (Modi) hasn’t uttered a word. Aaj tak gayab hain (He remains missing). To ensure that people’s attention doesn’t go towards this… they did drama in Parliament for two days.”

He added: “But the truth is that an economic storm is approaching… Crores of people will suffer, unemployment is at a 50-year high. Where is Modi? Where is he hiding?”

The AICC resolution asked “the ruling regime to undertake a constructive negotiation with the US on tariffs by placing our national interests first and after taking into confidence all political parties and stakeholders”.

In his speech, Gandhi also targeted Modi over his recent meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC talks, and said that as the Bangladeshi leader gave “adverse remarks”, the PM sat by listening. “Where is the 56-inch chest?”

Incidentally, the resolution passed at the AICC session noted with concern “the rise of radical elements in neighbouring Bangladesh… as it has already created an unsafe environment for religious minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists & Christians”. Party leaders have in the past urged the Congress to be even-handed in speaking up for minorities, including those under attack in its neighbourhood (or, in other words, Hindus).

About the party’s political message, Gandhi signalled that the party is going to step up its OBC outreach. He believes the party’s slide is linked to its decline among the backward classes since the Mandal Commission days of the 1990s.

Speaking about the “revolutionary” caste census conducted by the Congress government in Telangana, Gandhi said it had revealed that backward classes accounted for 90% of the population – thus including all deprived classes in this – and repeatedly said that the Congress will ensure representation to and participation of this 90%.

Both Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge mentioned the incident of now-suspended BJP leader Gyandev Ahuja ordering “washing” of a temple after a visit by Congress Leader of the Opposition Tika Ram Jully in Rajasthan, as proof of the BJP’s empty claims of empathy with Dalits.

“They don’t give rights to Dalits to enter temples, and when one goes, they clean the temple. This is not our religion… Our religion respects every individual. This thing – be it against Dalits or backwards – is hidden in the hearts of every BJP worker. That is the difference between you and them… You respect everyone, be it Dalits, tribals, backwards, women or minorities,” Gandhi said.

Kharge, who is a Dalit, mentioned the Jully incident, and said: “How many Dalits have been made members of Hindu trusts? When you don’t make Dalits, untouchables, backwards and extremely backwards trustees of Hindu trusts, what right do you have to include non-Muslim in Waqf boards?”

The resolution passed at the AICC session accused the BJP government of having “continuously conspired to dismantle the existing reservation framework for SCs, STs, and OBCs”.

“Public sector undertakings are being sold off and privatised. Privatisation leads to automatic abolition of reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs. Nearly 30 lakh vacancies in governments, both at the Centre and in states, as also PSUs remain vacant. If posts are not filled up, it automatically takes away the opportunity of reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs. The ‘Contract & Outsourced Employment’ in government jobs is a deliberate attack on reservations,” the document said.

The resolution said that if voted to power, the Congress will enact an SC/ST sub plan law and guarantee budgetary allocations in accordance with their population.

Gandhi, who drew comment for not participating in the discussion on the Waqf Bill in Parliament, slammed the legislation as an “attack on freedom of religion and the Constitution”.