Indian National Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on Wednesday, attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre, saying that if the country conducts fair elections without any tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs), then the ruling alliance will not secure more than 180 seats.
The Congress leader questioned the basis of BJP’s claim of securing more than 400 seats. Talking to a news agency during her roadshow in Saharanpur, Priyanka said, “On what basis are they saying that they will get 400, are they astrologers? Either they have done something from before (polling) and they know that they will secure more than 400 seats, Otherwise, how can they say that they will get 400 seats?... If today in this country, the elections are conducted in such a way in which there... is no tampering of EVMs, then I can say with full confidence that they will not gain more than 180 seats; in fact, they will win less than 180 seats.”
Interestingly, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s brother Rahul Gandhi during a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the NDA would get just 150 seats.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also said that she viewed the election from the people’s point of view and stressed that the polls should be conducted based on the issues of the people. “I am saying this everywhere to the people, that this election should be the election of the people. It should be conducted on the issues of the people,” she said.
Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders, Priyanka alleged that the BJP is not talking about unemployment and inflation. “They are not talking about the issues of unemployment and inflation. They are not talking about the real issues faced by farmers and the women. All the conversations are happening only to divert the people’s mind,” she said.
Claiming that people want change, the Congress leader asserted that people have not seen any development in their lives for the past 10 years and PM Modi has got disconnected with the people.
“People want change. They don’t want this type of politics... In the past 10 years, there has not been any development in the life of any common man, or woman... They are not getting jobs; inflation is not coming down... It is the time of festivals. Today is Ram Navami. People don’t have money to buy anything... He (Modi) doesn’t talk about unemployment and inflation. I feel the people around him are not telling him about this... He is disconnected from people,” she said.
Expressing her views on the electoral bond scheme, Priyanka questioned PM Modi for calling it a transparent system.
“Yesterday, he (PM Modi) said that because of the electoral bond system, the whole system has turned transparent... Now, the Supreme Court is saying to bring out the lists of donors and make it transparent... After the list was unveiled, we got to know that the company who is working for Rs 180 crore is donating Rs 1,100... the ones who were raided gave you a donation and now the case has been closed. Then how is this fight against corruption? Nobody is more corrupt than them. They made the system of corruption and now when they are caught, they are saying it is a transparent list,” Priyanka said.
Earlier, taking to her official X handle, the Congress general secretary tweeted, “I am overwhelmed by the love of the people of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. This enthusiasm, this zeal and this passion is a sign of the coming change. People who are disappointed with unemployment and inflation are now beginning to see hope for change. This enthusiasm is a reflection of that hope. The departure of BJP, which has done injustice to the people, is certain. India will unite, India will win.”
Meanwhile, Priyanka Vadra, on the last day of campaigning for the first phase poll on Wednesday, held a roadshow in support of INDIA bloc and Congress candidate Imran Masood in Saharanpur Lok Sabha constituency.
Priyanka attacked the BJP and said, “Those who are in power today are not worshippers of Mata Shakti and truth, they are worshippers of ‘power’. They will stoop to any level for power. For power, they will topple governments, buy MLAs and give the country’s wealth to the rich. This is not the tradition of our country.”
Priyanka Vadra’s roadshow started from Gol Kothi situated on Chilkana Road from where it reached Ranghdo Bridge via Raiwala, JBS Inter College, Lakdi Bazaar and Kamboh bridge. Thousands of people from all communities had started gathering on the roadshow route and Gol Kothi since morning. As soon as Priyanka Gandhi arrived, people’s enthusiasm knew no bounds and people raised slogans in support of Priyanka Gandhi and Imran Masood. Everyone was eager to take selfies standing near Priyanka Gandhi’s car.
While a large number of citizens stood on both sides of the roadshow route and welcomed Priyanka Gandhi, women and children showered rose and other flower petals from the rooftops and gave a rousing welcome to Priyanka.
During the entire roadshow, Priyanka Gandhi accepted everyone’s greetings and welcome by waving her hands and folding her hands.
During this historic roadshow, while addressing the people present near the bridge of Kamboh, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi congratulated the people on the occasion of Ram Navami and said that Lord Ram followed the path of truth and attained the power of Maa Durga through penance.
Reciting the verse of Ramayana ‘Ravan rathi virath Raghubira...’, she said that in the war, Ravan had chariot, power, palace, golden Lanka, but his fight was based on untruth, so Ravan had to face defeat, whereas Lord Ram fought the war like a forest dweller without chariot and power and emerged victorious because Lord Ram fought the war for truth. Priyanka said that our Prophet and nawab have always taught us to follow the path of truth, that is our religion even today.
Priyanka Gandhi also spoke on the issues of women, youth and farmers and said that Modi ji's BJP government can waive the loan and interest of Rs. 16 lakh crore of industrial houses, but leave aside the guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) and loan waiver to the farmers, even the payment for their sugarcane is not made on time.
Accusing the Modi government of being steeped in corruption, she asked whether the electoral bond, declared illegal by the Supreme Court, is not a means of money laundering? She also mentioned the Congress’ five justices and 25 guarantees, including 30 lakh jobs for the youth, security for women, 50 per cent reservation in government jobs, MSP to farmers, etc.
INDIA bloc’s candidate Imran Masood from the Congress sought support from all to protect democracy and the Constitution, on which the public raised both hands and announced their full support.
Saharanpur goes to the polls in the first phase on April 19. Imran Masood is locked in a triangular fight with Raghav Lakhanpal of the BJP and Majid Ali of the Bahujan Samaj Party.
