Patna, March 3 (UNI) Dubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "pro-capitalist", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the PM has closed all roads for the poor and hoped that Bihar will take the lead in the ideological movement against hatred and violence being unleashed by the current central dispensaion.
Addressing the Jan Vishwas Rally of RJD, which was attended by the prominent leaders of I.N.D.I.A. block, at the Gandhi Maidan, Gandhi said Bihar has always been a pioneer in bringing change in the nation. The state which is the nerve centre for politics, had led several movements in the country in the past and would again take the lead in the movement against hatred and violence.
Gandhi blamed Modi for "favouring" two to three capitalists of the country by waiving off a Rs 16 lakh crore loan of one of them during the past 10 years and alleged that the loans of farmers were not dispensed with.
Claimi.ng to nurturing love and peace in the society, the Congress MP alleged that the hatred in the society was spreading.
He said during the past 10 years unemployment was at its peak. The small and middle businessmen have been ruined totally due to demonetisation and implementation of GST whereas the business tycoons were flourishing.
Discussing the demography, the Congress leader said 50 percent of the population was backward, 15 percent Dalits and eight percent Adivasis, but in private companies, private educational institutions, hospitals and even in media houses the representation of this 73 per cent population in the list of ownership was missing. Even among the journalists, their representation was scanty, he pointed out.
He further alleged that the tribals, Dalits and OBCs were not getting justice in any of the sectors in the country.
Gandhi reiterated that of the 90 IAS officers who were running the country, only three belonged to the OBC category, 3 Dalits and one tribal. He alleged that even the budgetary allocation was unbalanced.
Gandhi said being a major source of employment, the public sector was a big solace for the poor but now they too were being closed for them.
Raising fingers at the Agniveer scheme of the centre, the Congress leader said now there would be two types of martyrs in the army - the one that would get the status of martyrs and all other admissible facilities, whereas the other would be deprived of it and only known as Agniveer Shahid.
The Congress leader said in China and Pakistan, the Army was trained for years but contrary to it in India only the Agniveers get only six months of training.
He asked the people not to get scared of BJP and RSS, and assured I.N.D.I.A. would form government at the centre.
On this occasion, RJD national president Lalu Prasad Yadav claimed that it was he who fought for the cause of the Dalits, backwards and other oppressed sections of the society and provided them the opportunities through the Mandal Commission.
Lambasting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for taking U-turns, Prasad said Kumar should feel ashamed of his act. The RJD leader expressed concern about the health conditions of Nitish Kumar, saying he was physically not fit. The huge turnout of the public in the rally would trigger several ailments in him, Prasad quipped.
Prasad appealed to the people to strengthen and empower the extremely backward class of society.
Addressing the rally, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav reiterated his claims of providing more than 5 lakh employment and 75 per cent reservation during 17 months of his rule.
Describing BJP as a party of "dustbins". Yadav said earlier it was famous as a washing machine party but now all the garbage of other political parties was getting assembled in it. making it the dustbin party.
Dubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a major liar, Yadav alleged that all the promises and assurances given by Modi remained unfulfilled.
In a counter-attack on Modi's remarks regarding dynasty in politics, Yadav outlined the achievements of Lalu Prasad and said that it was Lalu Prasad who helped the Indian railway get a profit of Rs 90 thousand crore during his regime. He further said that Lalu Prasad established 3 to 4 Railway factories in Bihar paving the way for employment of the local people.
He said the RJD national president became a voice for the poor, provided them social justice and emancipated the class from mental slavery.
Making a scathing attack on Nitish Kumar for crossing the fence, Yadav said Kumar is in the habit of taking U-turns and asked Modi to guarantee that Kumar would not again take a U-turn.
Yadav claimed that Kumar along with the JD(U) would be finished in 2024 and exhorted the people to unite the poor and oppressed classes.
Addressing the rally, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav claimed the I.N.D.I.A bloc will win all 80 Loksabha seats of Uttar Pradesh and 40 of Bihar in the election. He said UP and Bihar would pave the way for the defeat of NDA which would face a debacle on 120 seats in UP and Bihar.
The rally was also addressed by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, CPI General Secretary D Raja, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri, CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya and others. UNI RS BD SSP