Congress can protect Northeast people — Rahul

Our Correspondent

Imphal, March 20 (EMN): AICC president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed his party’s desire to initiate Northeast industrial policy if voted to power in centre.

Gandhi also promised not to allow the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to become a law apart from restoring the special category status to Manipur and other states in the Northeast.

Addressing a public meeting at Hapta Kangjeibung ground in Imphal East district today to launch the party’s poll campaign in the state for the Lok Sabha Polls, Rahul said that Manipur and other Northeast states could be developed as a centre for job creation and centre for manufacture.

Terming that every state is unique in their way, he said the congress party is committed not to allow anybody to touch the culture, language and history of Manipur and other Northeast states.

The Congress party will best educational institutions apart from developing best infrastructure when the party comes into power, he added while categorically criticising the BJP government at centre for the alleged false promises, issues relating to GST and demonetisation etc. Rahul Gandhi left for Agartala after delivering a 30 minute long speech.

Congress Legislature party leader and former chief minister O Ibobi Singh also spoke at the public rally which was attended by thousands of people. President Gaikhangam of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee gave the welcome address.

In the morning, Congress President Rahul Gandhi had an hour long interaction with the youngsters and students. Former chief minister O Ibobi and MPCC president Gaikhangam also attended the programme.

Rahul Gandhi arrived in Imphal on a two-day visit to the state on Tuesday afternoon after attending a public rally in Itanagar. On his arrival, AICC chief paid floral tribute at the Saheed Minar in Imphal after landed at congress bhavan. He also visited the historic Ima Market (Women’s market) in Imphal. The Congress is yet to announce the names of its candidates for the Lok Sabha polls which are scheduled to be held here on April 11 and 18 next.

Caption: Rahul Gandhi speaking during a public meeting at Hapta Kangjeibung ground in Imphal East district on Wed. March 20.

Will not allow RSS to run the country, says Rahul

Agartala, March 20 (IANS): Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the RSS would not be allowed to run the country and it is the people of the country, particularly the northeast region, would govern their land and nation.

“The (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi government wants the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) from Nagpur would run the country and the northeast region. Congress would, in no way, allow this.

“People of the country and the northeast region would govern their land and nation,” Gandhi said at an election rally in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council headquarters Khumulwng, 15 km north of Agartala.

He said that the Lok Sabha election would be fought between Congress’ ideology of inclusiveness and love and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “nafrat” (hatred), and accused the latter of destroying India’s culture, history and language.

Gandhi, in his around 25 minute speech in Hindi, claimed that when farmers fought to seek waiver of their loans, Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said there are no such norms, while letting of lakhs of crores of businessmen like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and others.

Citing how the UPA government had waived farmers’ loan of Rs 70,000 crore and how the new Congress governments in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan waived loans in two days, instead of the 10 days sought, he attacked the Modi government of helping “all thieves of India loot the people’s hard-earned money”, of causing loss of jobs for youth and removing the Central Bureau of Investigation Director when the agency wanted to probe the Rafale jet deal.

“Narendra Modi deprived the people, specially the farmers and the poor, and gave huge benefit to many industrial tycoons. We would give benefit to the people after the Congress come to the government,” he added.

He also attacked demonetisation. “An eight-year-old child even understand the terrible affect of Modi’s demonetisation, but he does not realised how much he had destroyed by his hasty decision.”

Noting BJP President Amit Shah had said his party would again bring the Citizenship Bill if it comes to power, Gandhi asserted the Congress would steadfastly oppose it as it “is against the interests of the people of northeast and other parts of the country”.

He promised to restore the special status to all the northeastern states which the Modi government had revoked it if the party come to power after the elections.

State Congress President Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarman, Congress Secretary Bhupen Bora, and tribal leader Animesh Debbarma among others also addressed the rally.

Party sources had earlier said during his stay, the Congress chief would announce his party’s candidates for the two Lok Sabha constituencies in Tripura, but it was not done.

Gandhi launched his second phase of Congress’ election campaign in the northeast from Arunachal Pradesh, went to Manipur on Tuesday and in the last leg of his visit, arrived here on Wednesday. He left for Delhi from here.