Rahul Gandhi promises free healthcare, slams BJP`s `politics of blood`

Zee Media Bureau/Himanshu Kapoor

Dehradun: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday addressed a rally here with once again advocating for the need to empower the women in order to become a superpower and taking potshots at Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Rahul said that the Congress party understood the pain of the women and provided them with 12 cylinders. “Unless we strengthen the women and provide them with employment opportunities, India will not become a superpower,” Rahul exclaimed and reiterated that the Congress tried to pass the Women`s Reservation Bill. In a bid to woo the women voters, Rahul, who was recently made co-chairman Congress campaign panel, said that there should be a day when women of the country constitute half of Lok Sabha or state assemblies. He said, “In politics there is no place for ego, anger. Because if we have ego, we can never understand pain of other.” Speaking on the flash floods that struck Uttarakhand last year causing major damage, Rahul said that people witnessed how everyone got together to help each other, but there few who want to divide nation. Centre sent Rs 7000 crore for the redevelopment of Uttarakhand and it was Army jawans who also helped rebuild the state. Continuing taking potshots at Narendra Modi, Rahul in his speech accused the Gujarat CM for taking credit for the development work done in the state. Rahul again making an attempt to woo the women present at the rally, took example of growth of Amul and said that it was the women which helped it stand and become a big name. Attacking the BJP, the Gandhi scion said that the main Opposition party lacks the vision of what should be done in the country. Pointing that it was former prime minister and his late father Rajiv Gandhi who brought computers to the nation, Rahul said, “Rajiv Gandhi talked about 21st century, about computers, but the senior BJP leaders said we don`t need computers, it will create unemployment in the country. And now, they are claiming that the IT industry developed because of them.” Further taking on the BJP, Rahul accused the party of practicing "politics of blood". He said that BJP is turning one religion against another and one caste against another in an attempt to come to power at any cost. On the health issues in the country, Rahul promised that the Congress party will provide free healthcare for all for next five years if it comes to power again after the General Elections which are set to be held in May this year. "We (Congress) provided you with right to education, right to food and now we will provide you with the right to health," Rahul said. Further trying to woo the poor people of the country, he highlighted that 14 crore people were lifted out of poverty during Congress rule and added that the benefits that the rich get, will be ensured that the poor also receive the same. "We want to raise the standard of living of the poor and bring them to the middle class. We aim to bring 70 lakh people to the middle class." Rahul slammed the BJP on the issue of corruption and said that the Congress party brought the RTI act, which is the biggest step against corruption. He said, "Congress brought RTI act and Lokpal Bill to uproot corruption." Rahul also accused the Opposition for not letting the anti-graft bills be passed in Parliament.