Basavakalyana: Unrelenting in his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused him of failing to “walk the talk” or practice what he preached.
“Athough Mr Modi often quotes the famous saying of 12th century social reformer, Basavanna, “ Nudidante Nade” (walk the talk) , he does not follow it himself,” Mr Gandhi charged , addressing a public meeting at the Ther Maidan in Basavakalyan town.
On the contrary, he claimed his party did exactly what it promised. “Before the UPA II came to power, my party promised to amend Article 371 of the Constitution and this was done. But PM Modi’s promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts of every citizen has not been fulfilled,” he said to loud applause from the crowd. Also, while the PM had failed to waive-off farmers’ crop loans although they were in distress, Chief Minister Siddaramiah had waived their loans to the tune of Rs 8500 crore. “So the Congress party always does what it promises to the people. Nudidante nade,” he added. Recalling that Basavanna preached brotherhood and humanity, he said Mr Modi merely spoke about his ideals but remained silent when atrocities were heaped on Dalits in Gujarat. “He did not utter a single word on the suicide of Dalit student, Rohit Vemula and when minorities were targeted in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh,” he regretted.
Also , taking potshots at Mr Modi for his silence on th Rafale fighter jet deal, Mr Gandhi said when the UPA II stuck the deal every detail was made public. But Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman was not ready to disclose any details by harping on the secrecy clause.
Journalists kept away
Journalists were kept away from the programme in which Congress President Rahul Gandhi had an interaction with select people of Kalaburagi. Cameramen were also not allowed inside. The reason given was, “To prevent journalists from asking questions”. However, the organisers installed a gaint screen in an adjacent room of the Hyderabad Karnataka Education Society’s convention hall where the programme was held, for the media. But as Mr Gandhi started speaking, the projector failed. The sound system too failed. No attempt was made to set right the problem.
The media reached out to Mr Gandhi while he was trying to get into his vehicle after inaugurating a building of the dental college run by Hyderabad-Karnataka Education Society. To a query, Mr Gandhi said that there was good response to his “Janashirvada Yatre”. When his attention was drawn to the BJP calling him a “Fake Hindu”, Mr Gandhi said, “You ask them (BJP leaders)”.
