NEW DELHI: Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at the Narendra Modi government (Centre) over the farmers’ agitation, saying that the “image” of India built by the Congress is being “destroyed” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Commenting on the farmers’ protests at several borders of the national capital for the last 54 days over the three farm laws, he said that “a tragedy is unfolding” and the only solution to end the deadlock is to repeal the three farm laws.
Addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, Rahul Gandhi said, “India used to be a pre-eminent economy in the world. Now we are a laughing stock. We are unable to provide jobs to the youth. Farmers are protesting outside in the cold. I don’t know why Modiji thinks that it is something to be proud of.”
“This is something to be ashamed of. The whole world is looking and asking why lakhs of farmers are sitting outside Delhi. So, Modi is destroying the image of India that Congress and Mahatma Gandhi built slowly and steadily,” he said.
“That is the reality,” he said, adding that the only solution to this is to repeal the three farm laws.
Slamming the government, the Congress leader said that the government believes it can tire out the farmers.
“But farmers cannot be tired or fooled. They are much smarter than the Prime Minister. Only solution to end the protests is to repeal the three farm laws,” he said.
He also accused the government of “destroying” Indian agriculture by enacting the three farm laws.
Rahul Gandhi also launched a booklet on the three farm laws titled ‘Kheti ka Khoon’.
He further said that there is a tragedy unfolding today in the country, and the government wants to ignore the issue and mislead the country. “I am not going to speak about farmers alone as it is only part of the tragedy. It’s also important for youngsters. This is not about the present but about your future,” he said.
“The rice and wheat that you (middle class) buy comes at the rate you purchase because of APMC and the agricultural system. This is not just an assault on farmers but on the middle class and on every single youngster in the country, who is not able to get a job,” he said.
He said, “What we have seen in industry after industry, when it comes to the airports, telecom, power, retail, across the board, what we are watching is the development of massive monopolies.”
He alleged that “three-four-five people are owning this country, and they are owning it as a small group of people who are close to the Prime Minister and have media support.”
“And now we have seen that the last bastion of agriculture that was not touched by industries is also going away,” he said.
He said that now three or four people will own the whole system and the farmers will not get their prices and the middle class will be hurt by the prices.
The Congress leader said that the farmers of Punjab and Haryana are fighting on behalf of 65 crore farmers of the country.
“They are the patriots of the country, who are protecting livelihood of 65 crore people. I support them, they are fighting for us,” Rahul Gandhi said.
To a question about China’s intrusion, Rahul Gandhi said, “China is noticing the weakness of India. China has a strategic vision as it wants to shape the entire world. China has tested India twice. If India won’t create a strategy against China, it will take benefit of that and then no one would be able to stop the damage.”
He said that the job of safeguarding the country is not being done properly.
“China is testing India and it wants to dominate. I am raising red flags, you can’t manage China with event management,” he said.
He added that whoever speaks against the government is described as an anti-national or criminal.
“We are saying this because we are seeing the problems. If we speak about China we are enemies. When we are giving warning signals, we are enemies. Even if the farmers’ protest is sorted out, then its result will come from somewhere else like from youth or someone else.
“Their approach is wrong, they don’t want to learn and accept. They only want to speak, it is the training by the RSS, they are top grade in this,” he added.
Leaking national secret to journalist is a criminal act: Rahul Gandhi
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that leaking sensitive information related to the national secret of a planned attack to a journalist is a “criminal act” and persons behind this should be put in prison.
To a question about the alleged chats discussing the Balakot air strike after the February 14, 2019 Pulwama terror strike on CRPF convoy, Rahul Gandhi said, “Leaking of any sensitive information is a criminal act. This applies to the person who sends it and the person who receives it.”
He said that such a sensitive issue was a subject of national secret regarding a planned air strike which is only either with the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Union Defence Minister, Indian Air Force Chief and the National Security Advisor.
“I want to know who among the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister or NSA leaked secret information to the journalist. This is a criminal act. If the journalist had such information on his WhatsApp, I assume the Pakistanis too had it,” he said.
He also said that by leaking such information to a journalist risked the IAF fighter jets and pilots and this was not an act of “patriotism”.
He also said for leaking such a classified information, the process of putting the people in prison should start.
Who is he? Is he my professor: Rahul Gandhi on JP Nadda
Former Congress chief on Tuesday slammed BJP national president J.P. Nadda after he taunted him for misleading and provoking farmers, saying who is he and why should he answer him.
While addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, Rahul Gandhi to a question over Nadda’s series of tweets on him, said, “Who is he that I have to answer to him? Is he my professor? I will answer to the country.”
He made the remarks to a question over Nadda slamming him in a series of tweets.
Earlier in the day, ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s press conference, Nadda said, “Now that Rahul Gandhi has returned from his monthly vacation, I would like to ask him some questions. I hope he will answer them in his today’s Press Conference.”
“When will Rahul Gandhi, his dynasty and Congress stop lying on China? Can he deny that thousands of kms, including the one in Arunachal Pradesh he is referring to, was gifted by none other than Pandit Nehru to the Chinese? Time and again, why does Congress surrender to China?” Nadda said in another tweet.
“Why did farmers remain poor for decades under Congress governments? Does he feel sympathy for farmers only in opposition?” the BJP leader asked.
“Rahul Gandhi spared no opportunity to demotivate the nation in the spirited fight against Covid-19. Today when India has one of the lowest cases and our scientists have come up with a vaccine, why hasn’t he congratulated the scientists and lauded 130 crore Indians even once?” Nadda said.
Slamming Nadda, Rahul Gandhi further said that farmers know the reality.
Gandhi also jokingly said that this is an attempted distraction, this is not full distraction.
“What they have in their heart they tell about me. The government is trying to distract the farmers. The government is telling them to talk and the talks have been done nine times. Farmers knows the reality. What Rahul Gandhi does every farmer knows.
“In Bhatta Parsaul, Naddaji was not there. Even during the Land Acquisition time, neither Naddaji and nor Modiji was there. Rahul Gandhi was there. When it was the matter of lands of farmers, Congress was standing there. When it was the matter of waiving off farmers loan, Congress was standing there,” he said.
He also said that he has character. “I am not scared of Modiji or anyone else. I am a clean person. They can shoot me from a bullet. I am a patriot, and I protect my country. And I will keep on doing that even if I have to stand alone. I am more fanatic than them.
“What is happening here. The reason for which country fought 70 years ago, that is happening once again,” he added.
This was Rahul Gandhi’s first press conference at the party headquarters this year.
Last Friday, he along with his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had participated in the protest over the three farm laws.
Asked about the Supreme Court forming a committee over the three farm laws, Rahul Gandhi declined to comment.
I’m a clean person, not scared of PM Modi: Rahul
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said he was not scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he was a “clean person” and he would continue to fight alone even if no one sided with him.
He made the remarks while addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, after releasing a booklet on the three farm laws titled “Kheti Ka Khoon.
Rahul Gandhi said, “I have character. I am not scared of Modi or anyone. I am a clean person, and they cannot touch me. They can shoot me. I am a patriot and I protect my country. I will stand alone even if everyone is standing on the other side but will fight as it is my religion.”
“I am more fanatic than them. India is once again fighting for independence,” he said.
He was responding to a question about BJP chief J.P. Nadda’s remarks that he was distracting the farmers.
He said that even during the UPA government, the Congress stood with the farmers in Bhatta Parsaul. “Nadda was not standing there nor was the BJP standing with the farmers then,” he said.
Lashing out at the Centre, Rahul Gandhi said the three farm laws were meant to destroy the Indian agricultural system.
He said, “A huge tragedy has unfolded and I am not talking about just farmers because that is not the only thing happening. Youngsters, who believe in this country, they need to listen carefully.”
He said, “What we have seen in industry after industry, when it comes to the airports, telecom, power, retail, across the board, what we are watching is the development of massive monopolies.”
He alleged that ‘three-four-five people are owning this country’, they are owning it as a small group of people who are close to the Prime Minister and have media support.
“And now we have seen that the last bastion of agriculture that was not touched by industries is also going away,” he said.
Rahul said that now three-four people will own the whole system and the farmers will not get their price and the middle class will be hurt by the prices.
“This is an assault on the middle class,” he said.
The Congress leader said that the farmers of Punjab and Haryana are fighting on behalf of 65 crore farmers of the country.
“They are the patriots of the country, who are protecting livelihoods of 65 crore people. I support them, they are fighting for us,” Rahul Gandhi said.
To a question about China’s intrusion, Rahul Gandhi said, “China is noticing the weakness of India. China has a strategic vision as it wants to shape the entire world. China has tested India twice. If India won’t create a strategy against China, it will take benefit of that and at that time no one would be able to stop the damage.”
He said that the job of safeguarding the country is not being done properly.
“China is testing India and it wants to dominate. I am raising red flags, you can’t manage China with event management,” he said.
He added that whoever speaks against the government is described as an anti national or a criminal.
“We are saying because we are seeing the problems. When we speak about China we are enemies. When we are giving warning signals, we are enemies. Even if the farmers protest is sorted out, then its result will come from somewhere else like from youths or someone else.
“Their approach is wrong, they don’t want to learn and accept. They only want to speak, it is the training by the RSS, they are top grade in this,” he added.
Source: IANS
