AIZAWL/LUNGLEI, Oct 17: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on
Tuesday claimed that the opposition INDIA alliance
represents 60 per cent of the country, more than the BJP
does.
Gandhi alleged that both the major parties of Mizoram –
MNF and opposition ZPM – are “instruments for the BJP and
the RSS to gain a foothold” in the Christian-majority state.
He promised an old age pension of Rs 2,000 per month, gas
cylinders at Rs 750 and support for entrepreneurs if the
Congress comes to power in Mizoram, which is going to
assembly polls on November 7.
Addressing reporters in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram,
where he was on a two-day visit from Monday to campaign
for party candidates, Gandhi said the opposition INDIA
alliance will defend the “idea of India” by protecting its
values, constitutional framework and freedom of people
irrespective of religion or culture to express themselves and
live in harmony.
“It is important to realise we (INDIA bloc) represent 60 per
cent of the country, more people than the BJP does,” he said,
while referring to non-BJP ruled states.
Lashing out at the BJP and its ideological parent RSS, Gandhi
said, “Their vision for our nation is different from ours. We
believe in decentralisation whereas the BJP believes that all
decisions should be taken in Delhi.”
He asserted that the Congress will win all the upcoming
assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana.
“We will decimate the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. We had wiped
them out in Chhattisgarh and will defeat them again. We had
trounced the BJP in Rajasthan in previous polls and will
repeat it this time as well. We will do the same in the
Northeast. Nobody should underestimate the idea of
Congress,” Gandhi added.
Asserting that the Congress helped lay the foundation of the
country and that the grand old party has a record of
defending that foundation, he accused the BJP of attempting
to capture the entire institutional framework of the nation.
“Different states in the Northeast are facing attacks from the
BJP and RSS, threatening the foundations of your religious
beliefs and languages. The RSS believes that India should be
governed by a single ideology and organisation, which is
what we are precisely opposing.
“We want the people of Mizoram to take decisions for their
future. We want them to be comfortable in expressing
themselves, their religious and social practices. We do not
believe Mizoram should be ruled directly from Delhi. We
believe in devolving power to the people of the state,” he
said.
Alleging that the BJP was using MNF and ZPM as a platform
to gain a foothold in Mizoram, he said that the upcoming
assembly polls is a fight to defend the idea of Mizoram and
protecting its residents’ freedom, tradition and religion.
“While the Mizo National Front (MNF) is directly allied with
the BJP, it is very clear that the Zoram People’s Movement
(ZPM) is not fighting the saffron party either,” he said.
“The Congress will form the next government in Mizoram.
People of the state understand what is happening… The real
question of the election is whether the RSS is going to control
Mizoram or not. It can do so through the MNF or ZPM,” he
added.
Related Posts:
Gandhi said unemployment is among the major reasons
behind the drug problem in Mizoram and the Congress will
focus on providing jobs to the youths if it comes to power in
the state.
He said if the Congress comes to power at the Centre after
the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it would implement across the
nation schemes that are running successfully in states ruled
by the party.
“The Congress believes in testing an idea and if it works, we
will scale it up and take it to the rest of the country. When
we come to power at Delhi, we will take ideas from
healthcare policies of Rajasthan, social security programme
of Karnataka and entrepreneurship support scheme of
Chhattisgarh and implement countrywide policies,” he said.
Gandhi said more focus will be laid on the MSME sector as it
generates the maximum number of jobs.
On the Manipur ethnic violence, he said the “hatred spread
by the BJP” has to be removed and bridges have to be built
between the two communities.
Later, speaking at a rally in Lunglei, he took a jibe at Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme and
said, “I am less interested in telling you my ‘mann ki baat’
and more interested in listening to your ‘mann ki baat’. So
anytime you need my help with anything, I am available for
you. Consider me your partner and your soldier in Delhi.”
Hitting out at the ruling MNF government in the state, he
said it has failed to crack down on drugs, provide jobs or
build or maintain infrastructure.
Recalling works done by previous Congress governments in
Mizoram, he said, “We had built Lengpui airport, Rajiv
Gandhi stadium, Mizoram State Cancer Institute, Zoram
Medical College, and implemented new land use policy. We
have a vision for Mizoram.”
Elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly are
scheduled to be held on November 7. (PTI)
