Ghaziabad. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed the electoral bond scheme as the ‘world’s biggest recovery scheme’ and alleged that the central government is the ‘champion of corruption’. In a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, he also claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be reduced to 150 seats in this Lok Sabha election. Rahul Gandhi said that this is an election of ideology. On one hand, RSS-BJP are trying to destroy the Constitution and democracy. On the other hand, the opposition alliance ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’ (India) is trying to save it.
He claimed that there are some major issues in this election like unemployment, inflation, participation, but BJP is busy misleading people 24 hours. Rahul Gandhi said that people of BJP do not talk about issues. Referring to the recent interview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Congress President said that this interview was ‘scripted’ and a ‘flop show’.
Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP Prime Minister said that the electoral bond scheme was brought to clean politics. If so, why did the Supreme Court cancel it? He asked why the names of those who donated hundreds of crores of rupees were hidden, why were the dates of donation hidden? The Congress leader has claimed that companies get contracts and then the same companies donate to BJP. The investigating agencies first raid the companies and then 10-15 days after the investigation starts, the same companies donate to the BJP. Investigation of companies stops after BJP receives donations.
Rahul said, Congress and SP will perform well
He alleged that the electoral bond scheme is the world’s largest recovery scheme. No matter how much clarification the Prime Minister gives, the entire country knows that the Prime Minister is the champion of corruption. When asked how many seats he expects the alliance of Congress and Samajwadi Party to get, Rahul Gandhi said that he does not predict the seats, but can definitely say that the performance of the alliance of SP and Congress in Uttar Pradesh. It will be very good. He said that 15-20 days ago it seemed that BJP would get 180 seats, but now it seems that it will get only 150 seats. We are getting reports from every state that our position is getting stronger and there is an invisible wave (undercurrent) against the BJP. He said that as far as alliance in Uttar Pradesh is concerned, our alliance is very powerful. Our performance will be very good.
Poverty cannot be eradicated in one stroke: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi claimed that poverty cannot be eradicated in one stroke, but it can be deeply hurt. A major reason for poverty in the country is that Narendra Modi ji has given the entire wealth of the country to a few selected people. He said, ‘Therefore, we will conduct caste census, give one lakh rupees annually to poor women, we are also going to give the right of ‘apprenticeship’ to the youth. Farmers are demanding right MSP and loan waiver. We will give legal guarantee of MSP and will also waive the loans of farmers.
Winds of change are blowing: Akhilesh Yadav
Akhilesh Yadav said that the wind of change is blowing and BJP is going to be wiped out from Ghaziabad to Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. In the joint press conference with Rahul Gandhi, he also said that ‘NDA’ (National Democratic Alliance) will be defeated by ‘PDA’ (Backward, Dalit, Minority). He appealed to the people not to allow division of votes and to guard their booths so that the BJP can be wiped out. Yadav said that BJP is going to be wiped out from Ghaziabad to Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh… the wind of change is blowing. Everything said by BJP turned out to be false. Neither did farmers’ income double, nor did the youth get employment. Development promises are also incomplete. The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh said that the electoral bonds have exposed them. BJP has become a warehouse of corrupt people. He said, ‘The alliance is a new hope. The day the farmers of the country become happy, they will get the right MSP and their income will increase, poverty will start ending from that day.
Yadav said that caste census is also an important step, because it will bring social justice and people will get respect. After the agreement between Congress and Samajwadi Party in the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav addressed a joint press conference for the first time. Earlier, both the leaders had held a joint press conference during the 2017 assembly elections. There are total 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Of these, Congress is contesting on 17 seats and Samajwadi Party and some other allies are contesting on 63 seats. The first phase of seven phases of voting for the Lok Sabha elections is on April 19. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.
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Tags: Akhilesh Yadav, Loksabha Election 2024, Loksabha Elections, Rahul Gandhi
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 17, 2024, 18:26 IST