Chennai: Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious programmes like the Make in India, “flop shows,” Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said unemployment and joblessness, farmers' plight and BJP government's attack on institutions and Tamil culture, as well, are the biggest issues for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
“Narendra Modi is nothing but a flop show when it comes to unemployment and job creation. He makes fake statements with his Make in India and Start up India. The reality is India is having the highest problem of unemployment and this is a biggest issue in the election,” Mr Rahul said flaying Mr Modi for “making false statements” on growth. The second vital issue is the utter disrespect the Modi government has towards the farmers, especially those from Tamil Nadu.
“The third is the wholesale attack on our institutions, Tamil language and culture. The CBI chief is removed at 1.30 in the night. Demonetisation without asking the RBI governor and Supreme Court judges saying they want justice. There is an attack on Tamil language and Tamil culture. This is happening in the states and northeast,” he said and added that the country cannot be ruled from RSS headquarters in Nagpur. Mr Rahul alleged that the Prime Minister is “remotely” controlling the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu. “This is an insult to the Tamil people and absolute insult to the country. I think Tamil people should run their own state,” he said.
Averring that there has to be a movement towards building bridges, towards conversation, which ought to be the spirit, he sought to know why the Prime Minister is scared of a conversation. “Why can't the PM have a conversation with me, the press? He should have the guts like I do. He should have the guts to speak to 3,000 students. Why are you hiding?” he asked.
Speaking to reporters here Mr Rahul said the Congress has firmed up alliances in number of States including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and has concluded the alliance talks in Bihar while in Jammu and Kashmir, the talks are in final stage.
“It is the BJP that is not having a strong alliance,” Rahul Gandhi said and added that his party is firming up alliances with different parties in various States to “defeat” PM Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha election. “The entire opposition is united in fighting against the Modi government. We will defeat Mr Narendra Modi,” he said.
To a question, he replied that he believed in decentralisation. “I do not believe India should be ruled from PMO. A State too should not be ruled from the CM office. A panchayat has a role, an MLA has a role,” Mr Rahul Gandhi said.
