On the last day of campaigning for the first phase of elections in Jharkhand, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday lashed out at the BJP for ‘not utilising’ the funds for the State allocated by the previous UPA government. Ms. Gandhi promised to set things right and bring development if voted to power.
“You will be surprised to know that the funds allocated by the previous UPA government for development of Jharkhand were not utilised by successive governments here,” Ms. Gandhi said, while addressing public rallies at Gumla and Daltonganj.
She also slammed the NDA government at the Centre for ‘repackaging’ several welfare schemes initiated by the previous UPA government.
“Jharkhand has 40 per cent of the country’s minerals but still lagging behind in development. They [BJP] have no policies of their own…they are just repackaging our policies and announcing them as their own. You should not be fooled by false promises made by BJP,” said the Congress president.
She also ridiculed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks during his campaign rallies.
“The Prime Minister was here two days back. He spoke big things and asked for your support but you must ask him what the people of Jharkhand got by supporting the BJP when they ruled the State for nine years out of 14. You only had to face more problems.”
Ms. Gandhi also asked the BJP why they didn’t pay any attention to lakhs of people suffering from malnutrition even where they were in power like Gujarat.
Mr. Modi, expressing concern over poor tribal people of Jharkhand suffering from sickle cell anaemia, had requested scientists from Japan for research on developing a medicine for this.
“Today they talk about malnutrition but why don’t they pay attention to lakhs of people who are suffering from the same in BJP-led States. Even people in Gujarat suffer… why don’t they pay attention to that,” Ms. Gandhi asked.
She also charged the BJP with encouraging communal elements and developing hatred within society. “Only the Congress took everyone along and the party would continue to work for the development of Jharkhand.”