PM, Rahul slug it out in Telugu states

Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service
Hyderabad, April 1

Advertisement

In a day of hectic political development in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi took on each other besides selling their party agenda.

Modi addressed a rally in LB Stadium that falls under the Secunderabad parliamentary constituency, while Rahul addressed rallies at Zaheerabad, Wanaparthi and Huzurnagar. Hard-selling the Congress’ NYAY scheme, Rahul said: “NYAY yojana hum aapko guarantee karke denge (We guarantee the implementation of NYAY).”

Taking a jibe at Modi’s promised “acchey din” that included Rs 15 lakh in every account, Rahul said: “Without bothering, Rs 12,000 will be paid under the NYAY scheme every month to the 20 per cent poorest families if the Congress is voted to power.” He also announced that 33 per cent of Central Government jobs would be reserved for women.

On his first visit to Telangana after the announcement of the election schedule, he attacked the PM, saying that while China generated 50,000 jobs every 24 hours, Modi “snatched” 27,000 in the same time. He promised two crore jobs every year.

Modi, meanwhile, attacked AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR). Raising the issue of lack of development in the state, he said the ‘Majlis’ had been a hurdle in the process of development carried out by the NDA government at the Centre, while KCR had stalled Central schemes in the state.

He also took on Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu by comparing him with “Baahubali” movie’s primary antagonist Bhallala Deva and accused him of trying to stay in power by hook or crook.

Addressing the “Vijay Sankalp” rally, Modi attacked former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah’s demand for a separate prime minister for the state.

In Hyderabad, Modi said the NDA government had taken various measures for the middle class, the benefits of which were visible. “Inflation has been contained and measures like reduction in interest rates of home loans and increase in the income tax exemption level have benefitted the middle class. The interest exemption of Rs 5 lakh announced in the Budget will come into effect from today,” he said.

In Andhra’s East Godavari, Modi repeatedly called the TDP chief ‘U-turn Babu’ and alleged that the TDP had been involved in stealing people’s data. “TDP’s Seva Mitra App is neither doing seva nor is a mitra. Instead, it is stealing people’s data,” he said.