Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today addressed two election campaign rallies in Chaibasa and Gumla reiterating his party’s promises to provide permanent jobs to youth and Rs 1 lakh to women below poverty line among others.
The former Congress president while addressing a rally in Chaibasa said that this is the first election where the INDI Alliance is protecting the Constitution and BJP is attacking the Constitution. “BJP leaders openly say that we will change the Constitution. Modi's leaders often say this. No action will be taken against them. They talk about ending reservation. Whatever we have got till date, be it votes, land, water, forest, reservation, employment, education, it has been given by the Constitution. Without it, tribals, Dalits and backward people will not live anywhere. This is the most important fight. We all are protecting the Constitution and reservation. BJP tries to end it,” he said.
“BJP people call tribals as Vanvasis. We say Adivasi with pride. Adivasi means those who were the first owners of the earth. First of all, tribal people lived on this land. This land, forest and water used to be theirs. The word Adivasi also means that those who were the first owners should get rights over water, forest and land. They should get equal participation in education, health and government. But they are not tribals but Vanvasis. BJP said this because they don't want to give you rights. You are the first owner of India. You should get participation in India. You should move forward,” added Rahul.
“You should get rights in every important place. They are giving all the forests to Adani. They call you forest dwellers and then they are cutting the forests. Then they will make you homeless. They will make you slaves of others. You have history. You have your language. They want to crush it. We want to save it. They want to take you forward. They do everything for the billionaires. All the infrastructure is theirs. Earlier there was reservation in the public sector. They handed it over to private hands. Now they will hand over the railways also to private hands. All this is not Adani's. This is yours,” said the Congress leader.
Targeting the BJP Rahul said that these people have made 22 billionaires, but we will make crores of lakhpatis. As soon as our government comes, we will make a list of all the poor families. A woman will be selected from each family. 1 lakh rupees will be deposited in their bank account every year. 8500 rupees will be sent every month through DBT, as long as they remain below the poverty line. No matter how long it takes, he said.
“Today, MGNREGA wages are Rs 250. Women and youth work for longer hours. MGNREGA was our scheme. Right to food was also our scheme. MGNREGA wages will be Rs 400. Women working in Anganwadi will be given double the money after the formation of the government. Our government will waive the money of the farmers of the country. We will give legal guarantee of MSP to the farmers,” he said.
“First, we closed the way to join the army. There is no appointment in the public sector. Work is being given in the contract system where there is no security. We will end this. We will give permanent jobs in the government. Children of rich families do internships even before entering the job market. This is not available to the common youth. We will bring a law to make the first job permanent. Graduates and diploma holders will be given the right to the first job,” added Rahul.
Chief Minister Champai Soren, former CM Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren, Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir and senior leaders of INDI Alliance were also present on the occasion.
