MARGAO: Congress National Vice-President Rahul Gandhi fired a salvo at the ruling BJP in the State and Centre warning them to be prepared for defeat in the coming elections.
Speaking to a sea of people gathered at the SAG Ground at Fatorda, Margao, Gandhi on Friday said, “Congress will defeat you (BJP) in Goa and also India.” Stressing on removal of corruption he said, “When Congress comes to power it will give a government for the poor people. We will take 100 percent strict action against corruption in minutes,” receiving a loud applause.
He said that the party wants to remove corruption from the country and any step by the BJP will be welcomed and supported, but criticised the demonetisation move. “Demonetisation is not against corruption. It is an attack on the cash economy, people and economy of the country,” the Congress Vice-President said.
“Demonetisation is a drama played by Narendra Modi to extract money from the pocket of 99 percent of the people and to give it to the banks to waive the Rs 8 lakh crore plundered by the 50 rich families of the nation,” he said.
Speaking on black money he said, “All cash is not black money and not all black money is cash. Fifty super rich families who make up for 1 percent of India have black money, not the 99 percent people of India. The robbers of India are wise and misers too. They invested in land, real estate, gold and also put money in foreign banks.”
He added, “The PM did not speak of cash but spoke of black money abroad. How many got Rs 15 lakh? How many did Modi put behind bars for holding black money? Modi (Lalit) and Mallya, where are they? The Switzerland government has given a list of black money holders, why did he not table it in Parliament?”
Continuing on the theme of black money he said, “He (PM) staged a new drama, surgical strike on corruption and black money. Stood up on 8 Nov and said the money in your pocket is paper. This is not surgical strike this is fire bombing. Narendra Modi has fire bombed and burnt the entire country.”
“Goan fishing and tourism industry you’ve (Modi) finished it. Why did you did it? What was the need? 1% super rich have plundered Rs 8 lakh crore from Indian banks. Take from poor and give to rich and this is demonetisation,” he said.
He, however added, “We are not against a cashless economy but we want it to happen slowly and it shouldn’t trouble the poor.”
GPCC President Luizinho started his address calling Gandhi the most revered and emerging new face of Congress leadership. “We are nostalgic and proud that your mother is an example of selfless sacrifice,” Faleiro said. He added that padyatra is a beginning of a Congress revolution and that it will be a Congress government that will be elected in the New Year.
Leader of the Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, speaking at the meeting, called Gandhi the “next Prime Minister of India”.
Buoyant Congress leaders were seen with smiles on their faces as the meeting ended, and many were praise for Faleiro. “Faleiro is the only leader who has kept Congress up, when all others have worked for themselves and not for the party,” a Congress leader said.
Among the other Congress leaders present were AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh, AICC Secretary Chella Kumar, former Chief Ministers Digambar Kamat, Pratapsingh Rane, Luizinho Faleiro, Francisco Sardinha, Ravi Naik, MP Shantaram Naik, MLAs Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Vishwajeet Rane, Jennifer Monserrate, Babu Kavlekar, former MLAs Nilkanth Halarnkar, Ramakant Khalap, and others.
