NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a dig at Rahul Gandhi for abandoning his family seat in Uttar Pradesh and making his new base in Kerala. “A big leader of Congress has found it difficult to save the respect of his family seat in Uttar Pradesh and has made his new base in Kerala,” PM Modi said at a rally in Palakkad.
Amethi in Uttar Pradesh was a Gandhi family stronghold till 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when Rahul Gandhi was defeated by BJP’s Smriti Irani.Rahul had represented the seat for three consecutive terms from 2004 to 2019 since making his electoral debut from the seat. Rahul, who had also contested and won from Wayanad in Kerala in 2019, is seeking re-election from there. UP Congress leaders want Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi also. However, neither Congress nor Rahul has said anything on the issue. The party has maintained that candidates for Amethi and Raebareli, which has been vacated by Sonia Gandhi, would be announced at the “right time”.
The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of taking help from Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political arm of the banned Popular Front of India in Kerala. “To win elections, Congress has entered into a backdoor agreement with the political wing of an organization which has been banned in the country for its anti-national tendencies,” he alleged.
The Prime Minister raised the issue of Rs 300 crore Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam and targeted “crown prince” Rahul Gandhi for not raising his voice on the sufferings of people of Kerala. “Have the Congress leaders said anything about how people’s money in the Cooperative bank scam was looted? Do they even utter a word? The crown prince of Congress will ask for votes from the people of Kerala but will not say even a single word on your issues,” he said.
PM Modi also launched a blistering attack on Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and accused him of telling lies for the past three years.
“Kerala CM has been lying about this scam for the past three years and has done nothing. Instead, it was, we, the Centre which acted and the Enforcement Directorate has now attached Rs 90 crore. Modi guarantees that all the people who have deposited the money will get it back. The Government of India in the past has returned Rs 17,000 crore to people who were cheated,” said PM Modi.
PM Modi also raised the issue of water scarcity in Kerala and said this pointed to the failure of the state government.
“NDA government works on the ideology of Narayan Guru. It prioritises welfare of the poor and the people. Hence in the last 10 years, the NDA government has given piped water connection to more than 36 lakh hosueholds in Kerala under the Jal Jeevan Mission. However, it is unfortunate that the speed at which the Nal Se Jal scheme was implemented in the country, the government in Kerala is not allowing it to be implemented. It is under the influence of corruption. Hence, there is drinking water scarcity even in some houses at Kerala,” PM Modi said.
Amethi in Uttar Pradesh was a Gandhi family stronghold till 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when Rahul Gandhi was defeated by BJP’s Smriti Irani.Rahul had represented the seat for three consecutive terms from 2004 to 2019 since making his electoral debut from the seat. Rahul, who had also contested and won from Wayanad in Kerala in 2019, is seeking re-election from there. UP Congress leaders want Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi also. However, neither Congress nor Rahul has said anything on the issue. The party has maintained that candidates for Amethi and Raebareli, which has been vacated by Sonia Gandhi, would be announced at the “right time”.
The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of taking help from Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political arm of the banned Popular Front of India in Kerala. “To win elections, Congress has entered into a backdoor agreement with the political wing of an organization which has been banned in the country for its anti-national tendencies,” he alleged.
The Prime Minister raised the issue of Rs 300 crore Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam and targeted “crown prince” Rahul Gandhi for not raising his voice on the sufferings of people of Kerala. “Have the Congress leaders said anything about how people’s money in the Cooperative bank scam was looted? Do they even utter a word? The crown prince of Congress will ask for votes from the people of Kerala but will not say even a single word on your issues,” he said.
PM Modi also launched a blistering attack on Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and accused him of telling lies for the past three years.
“Kerala CM has been lying about this scam for the past three years and has done nothing. Instead, it was, we, the Centre which acted and the Enforcement Directorate has now attached Rs 90 crore. Modi guarantees that all the people who have deposited the money will get it back. The Government of India in the past has returned Rs 17,000 crore to people who were cheated,” said PM Modi.
PM Modi also raised the issue of water scarcity in Kerala and said this pointed to the failure of the state government.
“NDA government works on the ideology of Narayan Guru. It prioritises welfare of the poor and the people. Hence in the last 10 years, the NDA government has given piped water connection to more than 36 lakh hosueholds in Kerala under the Jal Jeevan Mission. However, it is unfortunate that the speed at which the Nal Se Jal scheme was implemented in the country, the government in Kerala is not allowing it to be implemented. It is under the influence of corruption. Hence, there is drinking water scarcity even in some houses at Kerala,” PM Modi said.