Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his election rival, Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party, engaged in a heated exchange on Wednesday regarding campaign funding.
Accusations flew from both sides, with each alleging that the other had accepted money from prominent industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani.
Read more:Why Rahul stopped attacking Ambani-Adani? Received black money from them?: Modi (newsarenaindia.com)
Modi's remarks were seen as a direct response to Gandhi's ongoing criticisms regarding Modi's alleged connections to the country's wealthiest individuals.
These verbal sparring matches come at a critical juncture in the election, where issues such as economic growth, poverty, and unemployment are dominating the discourse.
However, despite the accusations, neither side provided concrete evidence to support their claims.
Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, the industrialists in question, have maintained silence on the matter, refraining from making any public statements regarding their support for any candidate.
Modi's comments were seen as a response to Gandhi's persistent criticism regarding Modi's purported ties to the country's wealthiest individuals.
The recently surfaced video captures Rahul Gandhi’s bold challenge to PM Narendra Modi regarding the influence of Adani and Ambani. In the video, Gandhi said, “Modiji, you are always discussing their names in private, but this is the first time you have mentioned them publicly”
He called for action, suggesting “Do one thing, send CBI or ED to them. Don’t be afraid, let them investigate these billionaires”. He emphasized upon redirecting the funds from Modi’s allocations to benefit India’s poor, proposing initiatives like Mahalaxmi yojana to uplift millions from poverty. He contrasts Modi’s 22 millionaires with his vision of creating wealth for a crore Indians.
Critics argue that this heightened rhetoric may also signify a shift in Modi's campaign strategy. "A lower-than-expected voter turnout has raised concerns among Modi's campaign managers, prompting a revaluation of tactics", they pointed.
The ongoing feud between Modi and Gandhi is not new, with Gandhi consistently accusing Modi of favoring industrialists like Ambani and Adani at the expense of the poor.
Modi, on the other hand, has dismissed these allegations as baseless, arguing that they only serve to harm the Congress party.
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, and Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, hail from Modi's home state of Gujarat and have expanded their operations nationally and internationally.
Despite India's economic growth, concerns about wealth inequality still persist.
A recent report by the World Inequality Lab highlighted the stark wealth disparity in India, with the richest 1% owning a significant portion of the country's wealth.
With Modi seeking a third consecutive term, the outcome of the election remains uncertain amidst these heated exchanges and ongoing debates about the nation’s economic future.
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