Patna, Mar 2: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that if his party was voted to power during the 2019 parliamentary elections, he would give a Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) to every Indian.
This proposal, he assured, would be implemented as soon as the Congress-led Government assumes office in May 2019.
“Unlike Narendra Modi, I never make false promises. I have been a Lok Sabha member since 2004, but I have never promised something which can’t be implemented,” said Rahul, addressing his first-ever rally after becoming the party’s national president in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand.
To push his point, he cited how the State Governments in Punjab, Karnataka, MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh had waived off farmers’ loans in no time. “Jo chunav se pehle vaada kiya, woh pura kiya. (We fulfilled whatever was promised during electioneering),” said Rahul, addressing the Congress rally at Morhabadi ground.
“We (UPA Govt) gave MNREGA, which, in turn, gave a boost to the rural economy. We amended Land Acquisition Act in 2013 so that without the concurrence of 80 per cent of the farmers, no land could be forcibly acquired. But the BJP Government amended the law and forcibly took over lands of tribals to give it to Modi’s corporate friends. Once we are voted to power, we will do social audit and provide justice to those farmers who have been deprived of their land in Jharkhand,” said Rahul.
Lambasting Modi for making false promises and driving a wedge between two communities, Rahul said, “We know how jal, jungle and jameen (water, forest and land) are important for you. No one can deprive you of all these three things, as we are always there to fight for your rights,” said the Congress president as he tried to strike an emotional chord with tribals who had come from far-flung areas like Pakur and Palamu to hear him.
Modi the surname
“Tell me, why all those who fled the country after indulging in loot, have the surname as Modi. Be it Nirav Modi or Lalit Modi or…” asked Rahul and then said, “Chowkidaar….?”
The crowd responded: “Chor hai.”
Flanked by former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Babulal Marandi, JMM leader Stephen Marandi, former Union Ministers RPN Singh, Subodh Kant Sahay and Jharkhand Congress chief Dr Ajoy Kumar, Rahul asked the constituents of Mahagatbandhan to unite and fight the BJP so that Modi could be defeated decisively.
Former Jharkhand DGP Rajeev Kumar joined the Congress party on the occasion.
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