PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/HALDWANI
Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Congress will come to power again in Uttarakhand. Addressing a public gathering at the Ramlila Ground here on Saturday, he also targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the State for unemployment and other factors.
Recalling his association with Uttarakhand, Kharge said that he had visited Pantnagar University in 1973. Describing Uttarakhand as a land of courageous people and soldiers, he said that the State’s contribution to the nation could not be overlooked. Referring to August 8 and MK Gandhi’s Quit India Movement, Kharge launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, alleging that they had no contribution to the freedom struggle. He said that those who had not gone to jail during the freedom movement were today attempting to teach the Congress lessons in patriotism.
Kharge claimed that the Congress was fighting to protect the constitution, democracy and the rights of the poor, women and students. Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said the Congress leader had travelled from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to raise the issues of the constitution and democracy.
Unemployment was one of the central themes of Kharge’s speech. Referring to the 2014 promise of creating two crore jobs annually, he questioned the Centre over its employment record. The Congress national president claimed that around 30 lakh government posts were lying vacant and alleged that the vacancies were not being filled. He said that the Congress had a clear roadmap for employment and development and promised that recruitment would be made transparent and strictly on merit if the party came to power. The Congress chief also targeted the BJP over corruption. He alleged that leaders facing corruption charges were subsequently inducted into the BJP. Taking a dig at the ruling party, Kharge said that such leaders were allegedly “washed clean” after joining the BJP.
Stating that he had spent nearly 58 years in politics, Kharge recalled his journey from a block-level Congress worker to the party’s national president. He highlighted the Food Security Act and MGNREGA among the initiatives of Congress-led governments and referred to the farm loan waiver announced during the Manmohan Singh government.
Kharge also raised the issue of paper leaks, alleging that repeated leaks were putting the future of students at risk. Referring to student protests at Jantar Mantar, he alleged that protesting students had been subjected to a repressive approach. In an aggressive attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Kharge said, “We are not afraid of Modi or Shah.” He questioned whether the government could engage with students and debate their concerns in Parliament.
Before the rally, Congress leaders and workers staged a protest outside the office of the senior superintendent of police in Haldwani alleging that police were stopping and checking vehicles carrying party workers to the rally.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal and Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya participated in the protest.
Arya alleged that the police and administration were acting at the behest of the State Government and attempting to prevent Congress workers from reaching the rally venue.
Haldwani MLA Sumit Hridayesh alleged that Congress workers’ vehicles were being stopped at various points.
