Simdega (Jharkhand):
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday reminded people that neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor any other political leaders were their “maalik” (masters) rather they are the lords in democracy, asking them to tell his party’s government what to do and it will be done.
He described mahagathbandhan of opposition parties as “voice of the people” and said he has not come to speak their maan ki baat but to listen to them.
The “maan ki baat” was a montly radio programme of prime minister Narendra Modi as part of which he used to share his thoughts on different subjects with the countrymen.
The Congress chief was addressing an election rally in Simdega, which is a part of Khunti Lok Sabha constituency where voting will take place on May 6.
Speaking about NYAY scheme, Congress key electoral agenda, Gandhi said if voted to power, Rs 72,000 would be deposited in bank accounts of 5 crore people of the country within one year under it.
The amount will be given under the NYAY scheme till a family earns Rs 12,000 per month on its own, he said.
“This alliance (Mahagathbandhan) is the voice of people.
I have not come to speak our maan ki baat but to listen to your maan ki baat and whatever you will tell us we will do it, Gandhi said.
Dont forget that you are maalik (master). Narendra Modi or any political leader are not your maalik. You just tell us what to do and we will do, Gandhi said.
The Congress chief made a blistering attack on Modi blaming him for working only for 15-20 people.
Narendra Modi ji has not fulfilled his promises of providing two crore jobs. He did not deposit Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts of the people, Gandhi said.
He (PM) only worked for 15-20 people, Gandhi said, apparently referring to industrialists.
Appealing to the people to vote for Congress and Mahagathbandhan candidate Kalicharan Munda from Khunti, Gandhi further attacked Modi for not waiving farm loans while (the MSP) Rs 2500 is being given for rice in Chhattisgarh ruled by the Congress.
Munda is facing BJPs Arjun Munda from Khunti LS seat.
Munda, who is a former chief minister, had earlier won Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat in a previous election.
The Congress chief said the poor were hit by the GST and asserted that the Congress was committed to save tribal land.
Unveiling his party’s future plans for Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar in 2000, he said free treatment in hospitals would be introduced and universities and technical institutions will be set up in districts if voted to power.
Alleging that the Narendra Modi government had put Rs 5.55 lakh crore in the pockets of 15/20 industrialists, Gandhi said that if the Congress alliance came to power such things would not happen, rather the money would be taken out from the pockets of these people and would be used for the welfare of the poor.
Stating the alliance government will protect jal, jungle, jameen (water, forest and land), he said it was the Congress which returned land if industry was not set up on the allotted land.
He also cited an example how land was taken away from a private company and returned to tribals.
Gandhi claimed that GST and demonetisation had hit hard on trade.
This was Congress chief’s first visit to Jharkhand after the election notification was issued on March 10. He had visited Ranchi on March 2.
Former chief minister Babulal Marandi and JMMs working president and ex-CM Hemant Soren also addressed the rally.
The Mahagathbandhan in Jharkhand comprises the Congress, JMM, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik-JVM) of Marandi and the RJD.
The Congress is contesting seven Lok Sabha seats, JMM has fielded candidates at four places while JVM is fighting on two seats and the RJD has been given one seat as per seat-sharing arrangement of the alliance.
While the first phase for Lohardaga (ST), Chatra and Palamu (SC) concluded on April 29, the second phase (ECs fifth phase) for Koderma, Khunti, Ranchi and Hazaribagh is scheduled on May 6.
