PM Modi spreading hatred, fear; only benefitting two industrialists: Rahul Gandhi at Halla Bol rally

Aditi Tandon

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New Delhi, Sept 4

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the ruling BJP and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking India back by spreading hatred and fear and benefitting two industrialists while the opposition, faced with unresponsive institutions, was left with the sole option of going to the people.

Addressing a mammoth ‘Mehngai Pe Halla Bol’ rally at Ramlila Grounds today, Gandhi  accused the Prime Minister of pushing 23 crore people into poverty over eight years of BJP rule.

“The UPA had pulled 27 crore people out of poverty and the PM has pushed 23 crore people back into poverty. What the UPA did in ten years was undone in eight years,” said Gandhi in a no holds barred attack on the ruling dispensation where he accused the BJP and RSS of spawning hatred and fear which, he said, “was benefitting two industrialists who were in control of the institutions and the PM.”

“The media is owned by these two industrialists. They work 24 hours for the PM and the PM works 24 hours for them. Narendra Modi could not have been PM without the support of these two industalists and the media. The judiciary, the Election Commission and other institutions are under pressure. The opposition has no other option. We will have to go straight to the people. The media is not with us, we cannot speak in Parliament as our mics are shut. We have only one option — telling people the reality of India by going to the people,” Gandhi said, explaining the rationale behind the Congress Party’s Kanyakumari to Kashmir ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ of over 3500 kms starting from September 8.

Gandhi also made a strong pitch for opposition unity saying the “ideology of the Congress and other opposition parties would defeat the BJP and RSS.”

Speaking to responsive crowds, Gandhi, who returned from abroad this morning, said the fight was between two ideologies and – “the BJP ideology that believes in spreading hate and fear, dividing the country and benefitting select few and the Congress ideology which believes that the country belongs to the poor and benefits of progress must go to all.”

“Hatred and anger has been rising in India ever since the BJP government came to power. The BJP and RSS divide the country and deliberately create fear and hate. Who gains from this fear and hate? Not the poor or the farmers. Two industrialists are reaping the benefits of this fear and hate, even the rest of the industrialists have not benefited,” alleged Gandhi saying UPA never gave India the current levels of inflation and unemployment in 70 years.

Noting that the government is unleashing probe agencies against anyone who questions the BJP, Rahul said he was grilled by the ED for 55 hours.

“Anyone who wants to work against the PM has to face the wrath of ED, CBI and IT. I was kept in the ED office for 55 hours. I am not afraid. Keep me for 55 hours, 200 hours, 500 hours, five years. Interrogate me for as long as you want. It does not matter to me. I am not afraid. Protecting the soul of India is today the work of every Indian citizen. If we do not stand up for the country today the country will not remain. And only the Congress worker can save the country,” Gandhi said, seeking to mobilize the workers for the upcoming Bharat Jodo yatra.

Repeating his familiar pitch of two Indias, Gandhi said the fight today was between the haves and haves not. “Today there are two Indians – one India of the poor, farmers and unemployed where you cannot dream and the other of few industrialists and the rich where you can get whatever you dream. The fight is between these two Indias. Narendra Modi’s ideology says the country has to be divided and benefits given to a select few. Our ideology says the country belongs to all and the benefit of people’s sweat cannot go to a few industrialists,” said Gandhi, noting that India’s enemies were benefiting from hate, fear and unemployment which was weakening the country.

Gandhi spoke briefly amid chants of “Hamaara Pradhan mantri kaisa ho….Rahul Gandhi jaisa ho.”

Earlier Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot addressed the crowds and said the credibility of Gandhi family was ‘higher than that of PM Modi.”

With Rahul Gandhi unwilling to lead the Congress as president, Gehlot is the frontrunner to run for the Congress President’s post. Elections are due on October 17.

“Winning elections is one thing but Sonia Gandhi’s credibility is the highest in the country, higher than that of the PM,” said Gehlot, adding that the Constitution was in tatters and democracy in danger.

Earlier Himachal Congress chief Pratibha Singh pledged to win the state elections scheduled later this year and said “change for the Congress Party’s national fortunes will begin from Himachal Pradesh.”

Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Punjab Congress President Partap Bajwa also addressed the crowds before Gandhi spoke.