Poonch (J&K): In a sharp attack on the Modi government, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today alleged it was being run by big industrialists and said a Rs 6,000 crore loan was facilitated to the Adani Group for a project in Australia but the promise of Rs 1,000-crore aid for flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir remained unfulfilled.
“It is unfortunate that while the Rs 1,000-crore aid promised by the Prime Minister for the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir has not been released, State Bank of India is giving Rs 6,000 crore to Adani, an industrialist,” Rahul told a public rally in Poonch today. “When he (Modi) went to Australia, an industrialist, Adani Sahib, accompanied him and the State Bank is now giving him Rs 6,000 crore (loan),” he said.
Rahul said the Prime Minister had visited the state during floods, conducted an aerial survey and returned. “He made an announcement of Rs 1,000-crore grant for the flood-hit people but this is not visible to anybody in the state,” he claimed.
Rahul asserted that it was the erstwhile UPA regime which brought peace to Jammu and Kashmir, and accused the ruling BJP at the Centre of spreading hatred and anger among the people.
“BJP and the NDA government cause rifts between the people. They spread anger, make big promises and get power. These BJP leaders sit behind the security wall, and when the people experience violence they don't get affected,” he said. Rahul said it is very easy to spread anger, bringing peace and spreading love is a difficult task. “We believe in taking everyone along,” he added.
Holding the previous NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee responsible for the situation in which “people used to be killed by terrorists daily”, the Congress leader said it was UPA government which after returning to power in 2004, fought militancy and brought peace to Jammu and Kashmir.
Crediting the Congress-led UPA government for the success in holding peaceful panchayat polls in the state, he said, “We want to empower you all so that you fulfil your dreams. We held elections here. Before 2004, there was a situation that the NDA could not have thought of holding the panchayat polls. But we brought peace and conducted the panchayat polls and fought for your rights. This is the kind of work we do.”
Showcasing the development programmes undertaken by the erstwhile UPA government at the Centre and the Congress coalition government in the state for the past 12 years, he said “Rs 22,000 crore were spent on rail infrastructure”.
“I brought Tata, Birla and other industrialists to Kashmir University to meet with the youth for employment. It was the first time that big industrialists came here. And, I can happily say that after that, around 40,000 youths of Jammu and Kashmir got employed,” he added.
Reminding people of the all-round development that took place during Ghulam Nabi Azad's two-and-a-half years' rule between 2006 and 2008, he appealed to the people to give a decisive mandate in favour of Congress. He asked them not to bring coalition government in the state.
