People will hold BJP accountable in LS polls: Priyanka Gandhi

Addressing a public rally at Ambala in support of Congress candidate Kumari Selja, Priyanka sought to draw comparisons between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Daryodhana of Mahabharata and said this country has never forgiven anyone’s arrogance.

Speaking at the rally, Priyanka, blaming the BJP for focusing their campaign on the attack on the Gandhi family, said this election was not about one family but crores of families whose hopes and aspirations were shattered by PM Modi and the BJP Government.

"This election is not about one family. This election is about the crores of families whose aspirations and hopes were shattered by this Prime Minister. This election is about the achievements of the BJP Government and they (BJP) are trying to divert attention of the people to other issues to hide their failures,’’ she said.

"The biggest challenge before country is to generate employment for youth, progress of farmers and ensuring security of women. In 2014 when BJP formed a government at the Centre and in Haryana there were lot of expectations due to which you ensured their win with a big margin. They had made huge promises that 2 crore jobs would be created per year. I have toured the entire Uttar Pradesh. Wherever I go, I ask the youth if they have got government employment. The answer I get is that none of the youth have got government employment," she said.

"In the past five years, 5 lakh jobs were lost because of demonetisation. Rather than create jobs, jobs were lost during their regime. The MGNREGA was a programme that gave employment but it was diluted. After demonetisation, people were made to stand in lines and told all black money would be brought to India. However, no black money came back. You were all made to stand in queues but did you see any BJP leader or rich person stand in line? So who was the loser in all this? It was the ordinary public. They had talked of doubling farmers' income. But in their rule, the farmer is steeped in debt, 12,000 farmers committed suicide. They do not get the right price for their produce in time, not do they get the seeds and manure for their farming," she said.

Describing the BJP government as ‘anti-youth’, ‘anti-farmer’ and ‘anti-women’, she challenged the Prime Minister to fight this elections based on issues related to unemployment, farmers’ distress and problems of women.

"I urge all of you to turn focus back on the issues concerning all of you by remaining aware of these issues. Make the leaders who come before you for votes accountable. If the Prime Minister has the courage, he should fight the election based on issues related to unemployment, farmers’ distress and problems of women," she said. "Let him tell you what his government has done in the past five years and the steps he plans to take in the future. This public is aware of what happened in the past. It is fighting for its present and the future. Being the Prime Minister of this country, you should understand this thing or else the people will make you understand."

Accusing the PM of ignoring the interests of the poor and favouring a few of his industrialist friends, Priyanka, sought to draw comparisons between him and Duryodhana in Mahabharata and said that this country has never forgiven anyone’s arrogance.

"This country has never forgiven arrogance. History is testimony to this. Such a arrogance was also seen in Duryodhana of Mahabharata. When Lord Krishna tries to show him the truth he tried to even make him captive. The people of India have an excellent sense of judgement which has been a part of their nature for centuries. They cannot be mislead. The public of this country makes every leader accountable. It will also hold you accountable,’’ she said.

Image credit: UNI