Congress leader equates Modi rule with British imperialism
NEW DELHI – Congress general secretary Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday gave a stern and categorical warning to the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners, telling them that the people of the country will hold them to account for undermining democracy even after they retire.
Addressing largely attended public rallies in Kadwa, Purnia and Barari in Bihar on the penultimate day of campaigning for the second and final phase of elections, Ms Vadra reminded the Election Commissioners that their acts of omission and commission were being watched and that they would be held accountable even after their retirement. She said they were equally responsible for the “vote theft” resorted to by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The senior Congress leader said the people of the country were fed up and completely disillusioned with the BJP and its allies’ governments, and that was why the party had started resorting to electoral malpractices. She specifically referred to the deletion of 65 lakh voters from the electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections.
She also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the language he was using in his campaign speeches, saying that such language was unbecoming of a prime minister. Ms Vadra rued that Modi was not maintaining the grace and dignity expected of the office of the prime minister of India.
Ms Vadra equated Modi’s rule with British imperialism, saying he was behaving in the same way the British once treated Indians. She said the Mahagathbandhan’s fight in Bihar against the National Democratic alliance (NDA) was similar to the Indians’ struggle against the British Empire.
The Congress general secretary held the NDA government in Bihar responsible for the sorry state of affairs in the state. She said the lack of opportunities there had forced Bihar’s youth to seek jobs in different parts of the country.
She blamed demonetisation and the faulty implementation of GST for the collapse of small and mediun businesses, which had destroyed employment opportunities for the youth.
Referring to the pre-election cash handout of Rs 10,000 to women in Bihar by the NDA government, Ms Vadra said the BJP was trying to bribe them. Asking the women to accept the money, she urged them to exercise utmost care and caution while casting their votes, as it would affect their own future.
