Rahul Gandhi has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of forming “stolen” governments in Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Gandhi claimed that Modi waived loans worth ₹16 lakh crore for 22 wealthy individuals over the past decade but failed to provide ₹9,000 crore to Himachal Pradesh for monsoon disaster relief last year.
At a public meeting in Hamirpur, Gandhi alleged that instead of assisting the hill state, Modi attempted to “steal” its elected government. He referenced Modi’s speeches in Nahan and Mandi, where the Prime Minister suggested that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh would be short-lived and criticized the state’s handling of central flood aid distribution.
Gandhi accused Modi of forming “stolen” governments in Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh through “stealing, bribery, and corruption.” He made these remarks while addressing election rallies in Nahan and Una to support Congress candidates Vinod Sultanpuri and Satpal Raizada for the Shimla and Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituencies and Rakesh Kalia and Vivek in the Gagret and Kutlehar assembly bypolls.
Elections to all four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh will be held on June 1, during the final phase of the ongoing general elections.
Gandhi also accused Modi of allowing one person, apparently referring to industrialist Gautam Adani, to control apple prices by owning cold storage facilities in the state. He claimed that Adani-owned companies’ share prices rise whenever Modi is Prime Minister. Gandhi alleged that under the BJP-led central government, only 22 people’s dreams were fulfilled while the country’s population remained mere spectators. He accused Modi of increasing unemployment by aiding Adani, destroying small and medium businesses, and introducing measures like demonetization and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Gandhi criticized Modi for waiving loans worth ₹16 lakh crore for 22 people over the last 10 years while failing to provide ₹9,000 crore to Himachal Pradesh for monsoon disaster relief. Last year’s extreme rainfall devastated Himachal Pradesh, killing over 550 people and damaging private and public infrastructure.
Gandhi promised that scrapping the Agniveer short-term military recruitment scheme would be the Congress party’s top priority upon assuming power at the Centre. He also pledged a legal guarantee on minimum support prices for crops, farm loan waivers, ₹1 lakh annually for poor families until they escape poverty, and filling 30 lakh government vacancies to provide jobs for unemployed youth.
At the Nahan rally, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu stated that Gandhi had instructed him to ensure the government reaches the last person in society. Sukhu criticized the BJP for allegedly conspiring to remove the Congress government in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said Gandhi has fought decisively against dictatorship and asserted that people are voting for the Congress.
Former BJP minister Suresh Bhardwaj responded by accusing Gandhi of resorting to personal attacks and pointed out the smaller venue for Gandhi’s rally compared to Modi’s.
