Caravan News
FATEHPUR, UP — Addressing a corner meeting in favour of Congress nominee Rakesh Sachan in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said if BJP leaders are truly patriotic, they would respect country’s martyrs — including former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi — irrespective of their caste, religion or political background.
Attacking the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said:
“If BJP leaders, who talk big about patriotism, are true patriots, they would respect martyrs of the country — whether that martyr is Hindu or Muslim or the father of their political opponent. He is a martyr. You can’t be selective in which martyr you respect. If you are true patriots, respect all martyrs including Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.”
“If they are truly patriotic, they would not have turned away and shut their doors on farmers when they came to Delhi to tell the government the problems they were facing… If they are truly patriotic, they would have delivered on the promise of creating jobs that they made to you,” she added.
Calling the upcoming elections crucial for deciding the fate of the country, Priyanka told the gathering that she was there to remind them of what true patriotism was all about.
“Every election, the BJP brings up the issue of patriotism and there is no talk on issues like development. I am here to remind you what true patriotism is all about,” she said.
BJP made people to stand in queues to deposit their money in banks when Modi demonetised currency notes calling it a patriotic act that would bring back black money, she said.
“Did black money come back? Not even a single paisa… True patriotism is believing in democracy and casting your vote responsibly by choosing those who work for you, and those who deliver on their promises. Political leaders quickly forget who brought them to power. You need to be aware and you need to remind them,” Congress General Secretary said.
The Congress general secretary, who recently campaigned in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi, said when she enquired about the development there as tall claims had been made about it she was shown a 15-km road from the airport.
She was told, she said, the stretch was part of a 150-km road project announced during the rule of the previous UPA government.
She also claimed that people told him that Modi did not visit a single village in the constituency after becoming the Prime Minister.
“This is his patriotism that he can visit Africa, US, China, Japan, Pakistan…have biryani and come back. But he can’t come to his constituency to ask the well-being of even a single family.”
Gandhi said unlike Modi’s promise of Rs 15 lakh in every Indian’s bank account, the Congress would deliver on its Nyay scheme which promises Rs 72,000 annually in bank accounts of the poor.
(With inputs from agencies)
