Introduction
Rahul Gandhi, an influential figure within the Congress party, recently restated a major promise he made during election campaigns. He vowed that if his party came into power at the national level, they would deposit Rs 1 lakh into the bank account of at least one woman from every poor household across the country. He believes that this financial aid could swiftly lift many families out of poverty, echoing the Congress party's long standing 'Gareebi Hatao' (Remove Poverty) campaign. However, his ambitious proposal faced criticism on social media. Many people questioned why similar commitments made by the party in the past were not fulfilled despite their long tenure in power.
Rahul Gandhi (Good News Today Photo) LINK
Rahul Gandhi’s Comment
While addressing a public rally on April 11th in Anupgarh, Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi made a bold declaration, stating,
“Agar aap gareebi rekha ke neeche ho, aapke bank account main har saal 1 lakh rupaiya, 8,500 rupaiya mahina ka khatakhat khatakhat khatakhat khatakhat aata rahega aur ek jhatke se Hindustan se hum gareebi ko mita denge. Maze ki baat suniye, aur us din take daalenge jis din tak aap gareebi rekha se nikal jaoge. (Translation - If you fall below the poverty line, our government will deposit Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 8,500 per month into your account each year until you rise above the threshold).”
PM Modi’s Comment on Rahul Gandhi's Claims
During a lively public rally in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a playful jab at Rahul Gandhi, nicknaming him "shehzada" (prince) and "shahi jaadugar" (royal magician). He teased Gandhi for his promise to eradicate poverty in one fell swoop, suggesting it was a magical solution that left the nation surprised. Modi questioned where this "shahi jaadugar" had been hiding all these years, poking fun at the suddenness of Gandhi's proclamation.
PM Modi further criticized the Congress party for its prolonged dominance, suggesting that one family had a stronghold over the government for decades. He accused them of resorting to undemocratic measures, like imposing Emergency and manipulating governments like a house of cards.
Modi further questioned the credibility of the Congress's promises, particularly their sudden claim of having a poverty-eradication "Jhatke vala mantra" (Translation - Quick Mantra) after governing through remote control for 10 years. Where did they get this mantra from? Is this not a mockery of the poor? Is this not an insult to the poor?"
Turning his attention to the opposition's manifestos, PM Modi said leaders of the INDIA bloc "are not able to decide that a manifesto is a responsibility, a commitment to the people of the country". "There are many dangerous promises in their manifesto. Their manifesto is to make the country financially bankrupt," he added.
PM Modi went on to say that "Congress ka shahi parivar" (Congress's royal family) is "threatening that if Modi becomes Prime Minister for the third time, the country will be on fire".
"The fire is not in the country, but the fire and jealousy are in their hearts. This jealousy is so intense that it is burning them from within. This jealousy is due to the love of 140 crore countrymen for Modi."
Congress' Roadmap for India Can Make India Bankrupt
In their manifesto titled 'Nyay Patra', released on April 5th, the Congress party unveiled a plethora of promises aimed at various segments of society. These commitments ranged from ensuring a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) to raising the minimum daily wage under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to Rs 400. Among the standout pledges were providing confirmed first jobs and an annual stipend of Rs 1 lakh to educated youth, as well as offering annual assistance worth Rs 1 lakh to women from impoverished families, among others. However, what caught attention beyond the promises was the glaring absence of a concrete roadmap or an organized strategy essential for fulfilling these commitments.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman wasted no time in criticizing the manifesto's proposals, labeling them as impractical and warning of potential budget deficits. She pointed out the lack of funds to implement the promised initiatives and highlighted the absence of any plans for development or wealth and capital generation necessary for fueling economic progress in a growing economy.
One of the most ambitious claims in the manifesto was the pledge to double the nation's GDP within the next ten years. While this might sound appealing, concerns were raised about its potential impact on India's current GDP growth rate, estimated to be around $3.7 trillion. The Modi administration projects this figure to grow to $7 trillion by 2030, more than doubling within the next six years. In contrast, the Congress party aims to achieve the same goal in ten years, sparking skepticism about the feasibility of their approach.
Another significant promise was the creation of 40 lakh central government jobs, although the manifesto lacked clarity on how this target would be accomplished. With over 40 lakh sanctioned posts and a considerable number of vacancies, questions arose regarding whether the party would create new positions or compel existing employees to retire early to make room for new hires.
The manifesto also included a bold proposal to write off all student loans, including unpaid interests, up to March 15th, 2024, as a one-time measure of relief due to widespread unemployment. However, there was no mention of how the government would compensate banks for this move, leaving doubts about its feasibility and sustainability.
Congress Party's Anti-Middle Class Stance
In a recently surfaced video, Sam Pitroda, political advisor to Rahul Gandhi, stirred controversy by suggesting that the burden of financing the Congress party's promised benefits and subsidies would fall on the hard working middle class. When asked about the potential impact on the middle class, Pitroda downplayed concerns, asserting that they would have more opportunities and jobs under a Congress government, despite potential tax increases. He urged against selfishness, urging people to have a "big heart" and not hesitate to tighten their belts for the greater good.
However, Pitroda's remarks sparked backlash online, with netizens accusing the Congress of exploiting the middle class for electoral gain without considering their welfare. His comments were seen as tone-deaf, with many questioning the party's commitment to its promises.
Meanwhile, amidst the controversy, attention turned to Rahul Gandhi's personal wealth, which reportedly increased by over 28% from Rs 15 crore in 2019 to over Rs 20 crore in 2024. This significant rise of over Rs 6 crore in just five years raised eyebrows, especially in light of Pitroda's comments about shared sacrifice. The juxtaposition of Gandhi's growing wealth with Pitroda's call for middle-class sacrifice only fueled further criticism of the party's priorities.
Congress' "Gareebi Hatao" slogan: A Monumental Failure
Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, once addressed the nation from the iconic Red Fort, highlighting how global events, even as far-reaching as conflicts in Korea or occurrences in America, could impact prices within India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also pointed out the same during his 2022 speech in Lok Sabha.
PM Modi conveyed, “Jawahar Lal Nehru addressed the nation and said that sometimes even a fight in Korea affects us, because of which prices of things increase. This was Nehruji, India’s first Prime Minister. He surrendered to price rises in front of the citizens of the country, when globalization was not such a crucial factor as it is today.
However, despite lofty slogans like "Gareebi Hatao Desh Bachao" (remove poverty and save the country), famously championed by Indira Gandhi during the 1971 election campaign, the Congress party failed to effectively combat poverty during its decades-long rule. Corruption and incompetence plagued the party's governance, with poverty persisting while the financial fortunes of the Nehru-Gandhi family and their allies soared.
Even Rajiv Gandhi, in the 1980s, admitted that, for every rupee meant for welfare and poverty alleviation, only 15 paise reached the intended recipient due to the appalling condition of corruption inside the Congress party. This ingrained culture of corruption tarnished the Congress's legacy and hindered progress towards poverty eradication.
Prime Minister Modi, in his address to the lower house, highlighted the failure of the Congress party's "Gareebi Hatao" slogan, which had been used as an electoral rallying cry since 1971. PM Modi said that even after 40 years, poverty didn’t go anywhere but the Congress government changed the definition of poverty. In 2013, in just one stroke, they created magic on paper and made 17 crore poor people rich.”
The Planning Commission, under the UPA government led by Congress, controversially revised the poverty line in 2013, drastically reducing the threshold to Rs. 27 per day for rural areas and Rs. 33 per day for urban areas. By revising the poverty line to a meager daily income, the government effectively lowered the threshold for poverty, resulting in a significant decrease in the reported proportion of impoverished individuals from 37.2% to 21.9%.
Moreover, the UPA government, plagued by a litany of corruption scandals including coal block allocation, Commonwealth Games irregularities, 2G Telecom spectrum allocation, land for jobs, and Saradha Chit Fund and more, faced severe scrutiny for its governance failures. These scandals not only eroded public trust but also highlighted the pervasive corruption that had permeated various sectors of government functioning.
The Modi government didn't shy away from addressing the rampant corruption scandals that plagued the nation during Congress rule. In a "White Paper" released to showcase the government's achievements from 2014 to 2024, it bluntly stated the pervasive corruption across various government functions. From procurement to resource allocation and regulatory approvals, corruption seeped into crucial areas, even affecting procurements vital for national security. The paper acknowledged how these scandals had severely dented public confidence.
Rahul Gandhi's Similar illogical Statements in the past
Rahul Gandhi's 2013 speech on Dalit empowerment, where he likened progress to the "escape velocities" of Earth and Jupiter, quickly became a subject of mockery, with many dubbing it as "political physics." He elucidated the concept, emphasizing the specific velocity required to transcend Earth's gravity and enter space, precisely 11.2 kilometers per second. Any slower speed wouldn't suffice, while exceeding this threshold would ensure a successful escape.
In the lead-up to the 2017 Gujarat election, a widely circulated video portrayed Rahul Gandhi making an extravagant promise to potato farmers: a machine capable of transmuting potatoes into gold. Despite later revelations of manipulation, with Gandhi actually intending to mock PM Modi's similar statement, the video underscored Gandhi's propensity for gaffes. His history of making outlandish statements and engaging in antics that invite ridicule further highlight his detachment from reality. Even in his ambitious political initiative, the "Bharat Jodo Yatra," such instances from the Congress leader were not uncommon.
Conclusion
Despite facing ridicule and dismissal, Rahul Gandhi and his party persist in their efforts to obstruct the nation's progress through political giveaways. Their actions indicate a trajectory that is detrimental to the country's advancement, as they have repeatedly fallen short of fulfilling their promises despite holding power for extended periods. Under Congress rule, the primary beneficiaries have often been members of the leading family and their associates, leaving others with nothing but empty promises and token gestures.
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