Rahul Gandhi on Monday criticised the Narendra Modi government’s Goods and Services Tax, while campaigning in poll-bound Gujarat.
GANDHINAGAR: Rahul Gandhi today targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said thousands of youths in Gujarat, belonging to all castes, will not remain silent now and their voices cannot be “suppressed” or “purchased”.
Rahul Gandhi said the GST has brought lakhs of small traders to their knees, a charge that the opposition has been levelling against Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of a composite takedown of his handling of the economy.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi charged that for the past 22 years – the time the BJP has been in power – Gujarat’s government has belonged to five-ten businessmen, and not to the people.
Rahul was addressing a rally which marked formal joining of OBC leader Alpesh Thakor in the Congress as part of its strategy of broadening its political and social base to take on the long-ruling BJP.
Alpesh Thakore, a newly-prominent young leader of backward castes in Gujarat, met Mr Gandhi at his residence in Delhi and said that he will join the Congress in the next few days.
Narendra Patel, within hours of joining the BJP, alleged last night at a press conference that he was offered Rs 1 crore by the BJP and was given a token amount of Rs 10 lakh, a charge rubbished by the saffron party.
Hardik Patel the 24-year-old leader of the powerful Patidar caste, has announced his intent to work against the BJP for the Gujarat election, which places him on the same side as the Congress.
The Congress vice president also targeted Modi and BJP president Amit Shah on the issue of alleged business deals of the latter’s son Jay Shah. Amit Shah and Jay have denied any wrongdoing.
