Gujarat is in the midst of stormy clouds these days, it seems like it is no more the political parties that are running the states but the community leaders. As the assembly polls are nearing in Gujarat the situation is getting tensed day by day for both Congress and BJP as to which community will extend their support to which party and change the entire game plan.
OBC leader Alpesh Thakor has extended its support to the Congress, while the other two important game changers Jignesh Mevani and Hardik Patel, though have not clearly joined hands with Congress but are adamant on defeating BJP in Gujarat. Patidar leader Hardik Patel in a conversation with the media channels hinted that the Patidars will support the Congress. He in his previous statements had said that he will support the party which fulfils the demands of the Patidars.
It was also speculated that after Hardik having a meeting with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, will officially declare his support to the party, but nothing of this happened. Hardik said that Congress is openly supporting the Patidars and have also agreed to most of the demands of the community. He said that he has informed the people of his community that he wishes to throw BJP out of rule from Gujarat. He further added that in such situation his community people are smart enough to decide on whom to vote for.
Denying the allegation of being bribed by Congress, Hardik said that the people who are putting such allegations are not the real Patels.
After the indication of Hardik supporting the Congress in the upcoming assembly election on 9 and 14 Dec, the Congress is making sure to maintain the harmony between the party and the Patidars. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi began the last public address of his three-day tour on Friday in Surat’s Varachha with the rebel yell of ‘Jai Sardar’ ‘Jai Patidar’ and ‘Jai Bhavani’.
BJP known to use Hindutva as the weapon has always alleged that Congress is a minority appeasing party. In order to blunt the allegations of the saffron party, Congress is trying hard to reframe its image. Rahul Gandhi began his Gujarat election campaign from Dwarkadheesh temple in Saurashtra in September. Through out his campaigning, he has also visited many temples.
Recently in his three-day tour to the poll-bound Gujarat, Rahul during his addresses attacking the ruling BJP said that during the rule of the UPA government, it had allotted Rs 35,000 crore for MNREGA, while the Narendra Modi government had allocated Rs 33,000 crore for the Nano car project. He further added that the people of Gujarat had put in the complete faith in BJP and had given their everything to the party hoping to get employment, education to the children and better health facilities in return.
“But did you get them?” he questioned. “You have to give Rs 10-15 lakh before you cross the doors of an institution, similar is the state of health facilities. This is what the BJP has done in these years. It has taken everything from you and used it for the benefit of around 15 business houses,” Rahul alleged.
The Congress leader pulling down BJP on the issues of unemployment and demonetization said that the “The small and mid-sized businessmen of Surat are the only ones who can challenge the China story.” He said that the badly implemented GDT and the failed experiment of note ban was an attack on the people.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul said that “Demonetisation was done to capture black money. Narendra Modiji did not understand that black money is not in cash, but in real estate, Swiss bank accounts. If Modiji had attacked black money, why is Vijay Mallya in London? Why were there no suited-booted guy in the lines before banks?”
He also claimed that GST was originally the suggestion of Congress, but BJP had not implemented the one tax regime properly, rather it had divided the tax system under fiver different slabs. Taking about GST, the way it was suggested by Congress, he said that “We had said highest slab in GST should not be more than 18%. We were told ‘we run the government, you are in opposition; you don’t have to tell us what to do.”
Rahul also alleged the BJP of stealing the money of the people through the Modi made disasters and added that Surat was a loser, small and businessmen were the sufferers in all this.
During his address, he also linked the Gujarat assembly elections to the Mahabharat calling Gujarat as the battleground for the fight between the truth and falsehood and Congress as the Pandavas and the BJP as the Kauravas. “The fight here is between truth and falsehood. The Kauravas had a huge army, weapons, while the Pandavas only had truth on their side and nothing else. I would like to tell you that we only have the truth with us and nothing else,” Rahul said.
Addressing a gathering at Pardi in Valsad district, Rahul referred to an incident from the Indian epic saying that “Duryodhana and Arjun both went to Krishna ahead of the Mahabharata war. Krishna advised (Kauravas) to give just five villages to the Pandavas to avoid a war. However, Duryodhana, who had power and a big army, declined to give even that (leading to war).”
This was in wake of the Patidars demanding reservation for their community and the BJP refusing to fulfill their demands.
In order to continue with the attempt to change the anti-Hindutva image of the Congress, the party Vice-President also visited the Sri Ranchhod Temple in Kosamba town of Valsad district and paid obeisance at the shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna.
Not missing the chance to attack BJP party President Amit Shah and his son Jay Shah. Rahul said that “Modiji told you ‘na khaoonga na khaane doonga’ (I will not engage in corruption myself, nor allow others). But Jay Shah’s company’s turnover rose from Rs 50,000 to Rs 80 crore in a jiffy.”
Taking a jibe at all the initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul brutally attacked him saying that “Modiji says I am a chowkidar (watchman). If you are truly a chowkidar, then inquire about it (the company’s functioning). If you do not get it inquired, you are not a chowkidar but a bhagidar ( participant).” He also mocked the monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of Modi saying that”I will not tell you my ‘Mann Ki Baat’ but listen to yours.”
The Congress leader had also during his three-day tour met the farmers at an event organised by the Gujarat Khedut Samaj, an outfit of cultivators. The farmers at the meet listed down the problems faced by them especially regarding the land acquisition laws. Responding to their problems Rahul said that the manner in which the land of the farmers is being acquired by the ruling BJP in Gujarat is authoritarian. He also assured that if voted to power Congress will definitely take into account of the issues of the farmers, before forming laws for the land acquisition.