Rahul claims secret nexus between BJP, BJD in Odisha

Balasore (Odisha): Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that there was a nexus between the ruling Biju Janata Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Odisha and they were both looting the state and also helping each other.

Addressing a largely attended public rally here, Gandhi asked, if the Odisha chief minister was really fighting against the BJP why there was no action taken against him.

The Congress leader also alleged that the BJP had insulted the people of Odisha after one of its leaders claimed that Lord Jagannath was a devotee of Modi. He blasted the BJP for insulting the people of Odisha and hurting their faith.

‘Why no action against Patnaik?’

He pointed out, that as he was fighting against the BJP he had been slapped with so many cases and even his Alok Sabha membership was cancelled and his house was taken away. But, he added, no such action was taken against Patnaik since he had an understanding with the BJP.

He alleged, like the BJP at the centre was helping and promoting the billionaires, in Odisha also, there was another ‘P’ (Pandian) who was controlling the government and promoting the billionaires the same way.

Gandhi said, there was a similar ‘understanding’ between the BRS and the BJP in Telangana also and the Congress defeated both parties in the last Assembly elections there. He said, now it is the Congress government there (Telangana) and people are feeling the difference.

‘BJP only helping billionaires’

The former Congress president reiterated that no power on earth can replace the Constitution of India, which the BJP and its leaders were saying they would change.

He accused the Modi government at the centre of helping and promoting only a few billionaires.

Taking a jibe at PM Modi for saying that whatever he was doing was being done through him by God, he wondered, what sort of God was his who wanted him only to help people like Adani while harassing the poor and downtrodden.

Rahul announces welfare schemes

Announcing various schemes aimed at providing direct benefit to the people across the country, Gandhi said, every poor family across the country will receive Rs 8,500 every month. The amount he disclosed will be deposited in the bank account of one of the women members of the family.

Similarly, he said, every fresh graduate or diploma holder will be entitled to the right to apprenticeship for one year with an assured income of Rs 1 lakh for that period.

For farmers, he said, their loans will be waived off and they will also get a legal guarantee for the MSP on their crops.

He announced that 30 lakh vacancies lying in various central government departments will be filled up immediately after the INDIA coalition comes to power.

Besides, he added, the minimum daily wage will be increased to Rs 400 from the existing Rs 250.

Expressing confidence that the INDIA government was set to take over on June 4, he said, all these schemes would not only benefit the people but would also help the economy. He said, this will jumpstart an economic cycle as purchasing capacity of people will increase which will lead to demand for goods that will mean their production and manufacturing in factories will increase, which will further generate employment.

with inputs from PTI