Rahul Gandhi targets PM Narendra Modi, says "media is suppressed, meek under him"

Ahmedabad: Just months before Gujarat goes to polls, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday kickstarted the assembly election campaign here where he held dialogues with party workers of 180 assemblies of the state.

Rahul, while addressing the party workers here, raised the issues of pitiable conditions of farmers, rising unemployment and corruption.

"Gujarat can show the path to the entire country. The strength of Gujarat lies in small businesses here, however, it is an irony that they do not  receive any help from the government here," Rahul said, during his address in Ahmedabad. 

"I want to say this to every tribal of Gujarat that we will fulfill the promise of your land and your rights," he said.

Raking up the demonetisation issue, Rahul said, "Raghuram Rajan had told the government that there will be no benefit from the ban on taboos and that there will be tremendous loss, But our PM likes to talk about the mind and do not listen."

Accusing the Union Government of capitalism, Rahul said "Gujarats's farmers are under the debt of Rs. 36,000 crore. While Modi has given Tata Rs. 36,000 crore as bank loan and Rs. 60,000 crore in total for their Nano project, which is twice the debt of Gujarat's farmers. But has anyone seen a Nano on the roads of Gujarat? So, it is all about the priorities."

"There is a section of people who want to write against PM Modi. However, but it is the time of 'dictatorship', so they are suppressed and meek under his rule," he added further in a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He even called the media 'angrezon ke zamaane ki media' (belonging to yesteryear), in a reference to Bollywood movie 'Sholay's jailor.

"This time Congress will form government in Gujarat and no one can stop us. The people have seen through emptiness of Gujarat model," he said.

He further said that whoever fights against the BJP or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the ground will be presented with an election ticket.

Talking about the party's ticket distribution strategy, he said "It is the fight of ideologies. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) works on the ideology of benefitting the corporate, whereas the Congress works for the welfare of the farmers, the poor and the weak. Anyone who works against this ideology will not be given space in the party."

In view of the recent setback to the party during the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, when at least 14 MLAs resigned from the Congress whereas eight of them cross-voted for BJP against the party's nominee Ahmed Patel, the opposition party is trying to ensure its flock remains together.