Congress leaders speaking at a party rally in Belagavi on Sunday virtually kicked off their campaign for the 2018 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Heaping praise on the State government, AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had created a history of sorts by launching several welfare schemes and development programmes in a short span of four years. He said that the State was heading on the path of development under Mr. Siddaramaiah and other leaders.
He urged party leaders and workers to spread the good word about the achievements of the State government and the misrule of the National Democratic Alliance-led Union government.
“That is why we are launching the ‘Congress-to-every-household’ movement. It should not only lead to the victory of the Congress in the State but also ensure that Rahul Gandhi becomes the next Prime Minister,” he said.
He asked workers to realise that “we need to fight against communal forces. We should also reach out to the people. All of us should remain united through these efforts.”
Mr. Venugopal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of betraying the trust of the people. His promises of Achche Din have been fulfilled only for the ultra rich and corporate houses. The common people are starving and the youth are disappointed due to lack of jobs, he said. The Union government is looting the people by imposing exorbitant taxes on everything. The prices of fuel are rising everyday because it is a highly taxed commodity.
The people are suffering, but the Union government is not willing to reduce taxes, he said. He complained that the government had burdened the people and damaged the economy by mindless steps such as demonetisation and improper implementation of GST.
Now, that they know that they have been unable to fulfil their poll promises, the BJP leaders are resorting to communal and divisive politics, he said.
People don’t have the right to eat food of their choice. Muslims are not even being allowed to rear animals. In Rajasthan, 15 cows were snatched from the house of a Muslim farmer. This cannot go on for long, he said.
The Congress, however, believed in inclusive politics and had taken everyone along, he added.
Denies allegations
Meanwhile, Mr. Venugopal denied the allegations of sexual assault made by the BJP against him.
He also denied his role in the solar scam in Kerala. “If the charges are proved, I will move away from public life,” he said.
Some BJP leaders, including district president Rajendra Harkuni and Raju Topannanavar and members of the women’s wing, were arrested at the rally venue when they showed black flags to Congress leaders.
They shouted slogans against Mr. Venugopal.
The protesters were released later.
