NEW DELHI: Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, accusing him of aiming to hand over the ‘Jal, Jangal, and Jameen’ (water, forests, and land) of tribal communities to industrialists.
Speaking at a rally in Jharkhand’s Chaibasa, Gandhi emphasized that this Lok Sabha election is about safeguarding the Constitution and the rights of tribals, the poor, and the marginalized. He pledged to uplift millions of people out of poverty if the INDIA bloc comes to power.
Asserting that the leaders of the INDIA bloc are willing to make sacrifices to defend the Constitution, Gandhi criticized Modi for allegedly favoring a handful of industrialists at the expense of tribal communities. He accused Modi of working in the interests of Adani and Ambani, alleging that 22 individuals became billionaires during Modi’s tenure.
Gandhi condemned the BJP for limiting the aspirations of tribals to menial roles, stating that they are denied opportunities to become professionals like doctors, engineers, and lawyers. He highlighted the dominance of non-tribal bureaucrats in the country’s administration and pledged to address the marginalization of tribal voices.
He also criticized the Modi-led government for the detention of tribal Chief Minister Hemant Soren, assuring the crowd that Soren would be released. The audience responded with chants of “Jail ka tala tutega, Hemant Soren chhootega” (the jail locks will be broken, Hemant Soren will be released).
Gandhi further promised one-year apprenticeships and a monthly stipend of Rs 8,000 for unemployed graduates and diploma holders if the INDIA bloc is elected to power. He announced plans to compile a list of impoverished individuals, including those from tribal, Dalit, and OBC communities, and to provide financial assistance to women.
Addressing the rally, Kalpana, Hemant Soren’s wife, criticized her husband’s detention ahead of the elections and vowed to respond with a strong electoral turnout on May 13, dubbed as ‘vote ki chot’ (strike with vote) by the INDIA bloc.
