Youths wearing T-shirts with the BJP’s “ main bhi chowkidar ” (I, too, am a watchman) slogan at a rally on Monday caught the attention of Congress president Rahul Gandhi who asked them about the two crore jobs promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a public meeting in Sardarshahar town of Rajasthan’s Churu district, Mr. Gandhi acknowledged the youths and said, “You are wearing T-shirt of the ‘ chowkidar ’. You all are welcome here.”
The Congress chief said Mr. Modi had promised ₹15 lakh in the bank accounts of all Indians and asked whether anyone present in the rally had received the amount. “‘ Chowkidarji ’ had also promised two crore jobs. Anyone among you got the jobs?” Mr. Gandhi asked, pointing to the youths who were wearing the T-shirts.
Describing demonetisation and the goods and services tax as an attack on the country’s economy and employment, the Congress leader claimed that lakhs of youths were left unemployed by the twin decisions.
Mr. Gandhi accused Narendra Modi of giving public money to the top 15 rich people, adding that the Congress wants to give money to the poor through its proposed minimum income support scheme, ‘Nyay.’
Under the scheme, ₹72,000 will be deposited annually in the bank accounts of the poorest five crore women of the country, Mr. Gandhi explained. “The money to run the scheme will not come from the bank accounts of the middle class, shopkeepers or from the pockets of honest businessmen,” he said.
He also talked about the Congress’ manifesto promise of making loan default by farmers a civil offence. “I want to give a message to PM Modi. You want to send to jail those farmers who cannot repay a loan of ₹20,000. You can also send behind bars those who have taken away ₹35,000 crore of public money. If they are not jailed, then the farmers will also not go to jails,” Mr. Gandhi said.
Mr. Gandhi also spoke about the promised farmers’ budget by the Congress if it comes to power.
