Gandhi’s remarks came after he inaugurated a statue of the late Congress leader Patangrao Kadam…reports Asian Lite News
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding an apology for various issues, including the recent collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg.
During a public meeting in Sangli, Maharashtra, Gandhi claimed that the statue’s construction was mishandled due to corruption, alleging that a contractor with ties to the RSS was given the project without merit. He further criticized the Prime Minister for demonetization, the GST, and the handling of anti-farmer laws, stating that Modi should apologize for these as well.
Gandhi’s remarks came after he inaugurated a statue of the late Congress leader Patangrao Kadam. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Sushilkumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan, and NCP leader Sharad Pawar were also present at the event. However, Uddhav Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), was notably absent, leading to speculation about the unity within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.
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In his speech, Gandhi questioned the government’s preference for awarding contracts to business magnates like Adani and Ambani, accusing Modi of running the government in their favor. He emphasized that small and medium businesses were suffering, while large corporations could not generate sufficient employment. He also criticized the government’s failure to address the crisis in Manipur, which he described as a “civil war-like situation.”
Gandhi went on to praise Maharashtra’s progressive legacy, highlighting the contributions of historical figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. He stressed that the Congress ideology, rooted in social progress and inclusivity, aligned with the values of these icons, in contrast to the BJP’s approach, which he claimed favored a select few and sought to maintain the caste structure.
Additionally, Gandhi reiterated his demand for a caste census, asserting that it would offer valuable insights into the distribution of wealth and power among different social groups. He also took a jab at Modi for his earlier apology regarding the Shivaji statue collapse, contrasting it with Patangrao Kadam’s legacy of service without asking for forgiveness.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to each and every person in Maharashtra for the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj recently in Sindhudurg.
Slamming the ruling MahaYuti alliance comprising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rahul Gandhi wondered why the PM should say sorry only to the Chhatrapati and he should tender an apology to all Maharashtrians for the tragedy at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, arising out of a corruption-ridden project.
“Only a person who has committed a mistake will apologise. Why did the PM say sorry? There are several reasons. Firstly, the project was given to RSS-linked persons, secondly, there was corruption in its construction and the people who built it had robbed the state, and thirdly though a statue of Chhatrapati was built, they did not take care whether it would stand or not. That’s why the figurine of a great icon like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj crashed in such a short period,” said Rahul Gandhi in a no-holds-barred attack.
Rahul Gandhi pointed out that Maharashtra is a progressive state and soaked in the ideologies and teachings of legends like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, B.R. Ambedkar, and today, the country is witnessing “not politics but an ideological war”.
“The Congress ideology is also very similar to theirs… but the BJP’s ideals are opposite to these great legends. The BJP has been spreading hatred, fomenting violence and dividing the people all over India for decades. Earlier, the great icons fought that tendency, now the Congress is fighting against the BJP,” asserted Rahul Gandhi.
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