All India Congress Committee General Secretary, Priyanka Gandhi today lashed at the Modi government for not helping out Himachal Pradesh in the hour of crisis during the worst-ever natural calamity in the hill state last year.
Addressing poll rallies in favour of Congress nominee, Vikramaditya Singh in Kullu and Mandi, Priyanka said, the BJP-led government in the Centre did not declare it as a ‘national disaster’ despite unprecedented damage just because it was the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh.
"Had they declared it a national disaster, Himachal would have got funds from the centre to deal with the disaster like other states. But they did not want to give relief to the people here," she said.
Gandhi exhorted people to compare those who stood by them during times of crisis and who fulfilled the election promises.
"The Chief Minister, ministers, and the whole Congress party were at your doorstep in the unprecedented natural calamity. Where were the BJP leaders then? Prime Minister Narendra Modi says Himachal is his second home. I would say that a crisis is a time when your family, friends relatives or anyone can express that they are concerned about you. Then why didn't the PM respond to the needs of the people here in the worst calamity," she questioned.
She said the Congress government ensured that every affected family gets relief, the damaged roads, infrastructure, and other systems are restored at the earliest.
"The tourists who were struck were taken out on priority with the Chief Minister himself monitoring all the relief and restoration works on the ground."
Gandhi then highlighted that the state was known for grace in politics, right from the times of Dr YS Parmar, and Virbhadra Singh.
"They used to bow down and mingle with the people, fulfilling their needs being political leaders. I am glad that the Congress leaders of today have also carried forward that legacy and they mingle with the people well and take care of their needs. The Chief Minister here fulfilled the promise of implementing the Old Pension Scheme even though the Centre did not give due money to the state. Our government has also implemented another poll promise of giving Rs 1500 to women per month. The scheme has been started in Lahaul & Spiti and would be implemented in other parts of the state after the elections," she said.
Gandhi did not refer to the BJP nominee from Mandi (Kangana Ranaut) even once by name but asked the people to stay reminded of the culture and civilized society Himachal is known for.
"You must remember who was there for you when you were in need and who was just interested in grabbing power with money against the people's mandate. You all saw what happened in Himachal and how BJP tried to get hold of the MLAs by taking them out of state in choppers lavishly so that nobody gets to know about them," she said.
She criticised the Modi government, claiming it just ensured that their billionaire industrialist friends get richer day by day at the cost of the small and medium industrialists, farmers, and middle class. She said the BJP policies at the Centre have led to the closure of the intuitions that generated employment.
"Unemployment is at its peak in India at this moment. They have played with the future of the educated youth by depriving them of due employment. Their policy of agniveer is a mockery, as it leaves the young soldiers insecure after they finish four years in the army,” she said.
She said the inflation is so high that the women are now unable to buy their essential needs even for their kitchen with the money they have in their pockets.
"They say they have done in ten years what Congress could not do in over five decades of rule. I agree. They have made the BJP the richest party in the world in ten years. The Congress never tried it as Congress was more interested in serving the people,” she said.
“They have taken Rs 52 crore for the company that made the Covishield vaccine, which has led to so many deaths. The bridge that collapsed in Gujarat and claimed so many lives was also made by the company, which gave donations to BJP,” she said, criticising the Prime Minister for his claim that he was the only one standing against corruption.
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