Wayanad by-poll: Priyanka takes battle to BJP camp

Wayanad: Congress general secretary and the UDF candidate from Wayanad parliamentary constituency Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today blasted the divisive politics of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing corner meetings during her campaigning here today, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “In the last 10 years the politics we have seen in our country has been a politics of divisiveness in which those who are in power divide you, to separate brother from brother, sister from sister to spread fear and mistrust amongst you, to stay in power”.

Praising the spirit of harmony and brotherhood of the people of Wayanad, where mosques, temples, and churches coexist peacefully, defying divisive agendas, she said, “You stand for the values of our Constitution of Justice, of equality, of secularism and it is exactly these values that the BJP and its leaders like Narendra Modi Ji, want to destroy”.

Referring to the great contribution of people here towards the freedom struggle, she said, “You have a great history here; freedom fighters like P.N. Nambeesan and Muhammad Maulla fought for the freedom of India. You have the Edappulam Masjid here, which is more than 100 years old and a tradition and culture in which Hindus, Muslims, Christians everybody lives together peacefully and happily.”.

The Congress general secretary pointed out how Chathangottupuram Utsav in the Bhagavathy temple is a unique whole country because people of all religions came together at that time. “You stand for everything that is beautiful, everything that is strong, everything that is resilient about our country”, she remarked.

Drawing a comparison between her brother Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Modi, she said, “While Rahul loves, respects and understands you, PM Modi will not hesitate to spread hate and mistrust among you and divide you, as long as he stays in power”.

Spelling out her development agenda for Wayanad, Vadra observed, “So much can be done to boost tourism here”. In this regard, she added, the direct entry road into the ‘Greenfield Highway’ and the development of two railway stations were two main issues.

She blamed the Modi-led BJP government’s policy, which she held responsible for unemployment. She said it was at the highest level ever. Besides, she added, inflation had crossed all limits, and it was difficult for the common man to make both ends meet.

In this context, she specifically referred to the women present during the meeting, saying they bear the brunt of inflation and rising prices the most, as they have to run the household and feed everyone.

Referring to her interaction with small traders and shopkeepers, Vadra disclosed that they had been badly hit by the wrong implementation of the GST and demonetization.

She also disclosed that they were shocked to learn that the Modi government had waived off Rs 16 lakh crore of debt of big industrialists, as they (small traders and shopkeepers) never got any loan waivers from this government.

However, some farmers, she said, told her that their debt had been waived off during the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014.

Assuring her full support to the people here, Vadra told them, “I will stand by you, during your troubles, during your sadness, and I will be with you during your happiness the same way you have stood by my brother”.