Starting his poll campaign in Bihar on Tuesday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed a public meeting in support of the mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) candidate Jitan Ram Manjhi of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promising to give “15 lakhs” to everyone’s account.
“By giving 15 lakhs to everyone’s account, PM Modi would have destroyed India’s economy,” said Mr. Gandhi at Gaya’s Gandhi Maidan.
Former BJP MP from Patna Sahib and Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha, who joined the Congress party on April 6, too accompanied Mr. Gandhi and addressed the public meeting.
“The Congress party with its NYAY Yojna will annually give ₹ 72,000 to everyone’s account, which will be ₹ 3.60 lakh in five years, and that will not destroy India’s economy,” said Mr. Gandhi to an applause.
“I’ll not lie like PM Narendra Modi saying 'I’ll deposit 15 or 20 lakh in your account',” he added.
Mr. Gandhi also slammed PM Modi for “giving” ₹ 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani and businessmen like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya who have fled the country.
“If PM Narendra Modi will give money to the rich people, Rahul Gandhi will give money to the poor people”, he declared. The crowd also shouted slogans like “ Chowkidar chor hai” (watchman is a thief).
“Have farmers got the fair price for their crops? Did young people get jobs in Modi government?” asked Mr. Gandhi and the crowd said, “No”.
“It will be a farmers' government after Congress party wins the poll,” he added.
Mr. Sinha too attacked the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, saying, “ dhan sahi is dominating lok sahi (power of money is dominating power of people). “Demonetisation has affected small traders”, he added further.
“ Sach kehna agar bagawat hai to samjho hum bhi baagi hain (if telling the truth is revolution, then I’m also a revolutionary),” said Mr. Sinha in his inimitable Bollywood style.
