Imphal, Feb 16: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said that BJP-led central government’s policy is to benefit big industrialists, depriving the poor and middle class people and not providing political and cultural space to people of different religion, caste and regions of the country.
The Congress leader said that the BJP government at the Centre is generally to benefit two to three big industrialists of the country who are making thousands of crores a day whereas the poor and middle class people are not getting any support from the government.
“The individual voices are being throttled and suppressed by the BJP. The party made so many promises before the elections, but after the election BJP ignored Manipur and the northeast region. Everything has been imposed from the Centre,” Vadra said while addressing gatherings in Manipur virtually from Delhi.
LIVE: Addressing the people of Manipur through a virtual rally.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 15, 2022
Saying that politics of BJP and Congress is different, she accused the saffron party for not giving space to the diverse section of people, leading to discrimination and unrest into the society.
Terming Manipur as the jewel of the country, Vadra said that there is a huge unemployment crisis in the state despite the tourism sector having great sources of employment opportunities and jobs also can be created by helping small and medium scale industries.
Alleging that all states, regions and all people of the country are not being treated equally by the BJP, the Congress leader said that the BJP government at the Centre and in the states does not respect individual life and culture, different ways of living, diverse opinions causing rising discriminations.
Claiming that the Congress party built the nation and obtained India’s Independence, the Congress general secretary said that rampant corruption, unemployment, price rises and undemocratic activities have shattered the lives of the people in Manipur.
Demanding 33 percent reservation for women in government jobs and free transport of women in Manipur, the Congress leader said that she has been constantly trying to provide equal opportunity to women while BJP’s ideology never supports this policy.
Noting that Manipur has huge potentiality in tourism, hydroelectric to handloom and handicrafts, she said that if the Congress after the election comes to power, unemployment allowance would be given, would protect each ethnic group and community, curb rising drug menaces, provide free health care, resolve unemployment and women’s problems.
“Congress is always focusing on development and women’s empowerment,” she said.
Vadra said that in the 2017 assembly elections, Congress got the people’s mandate by securing 28 seats (in the 60 member assembly) but BJP captured power through manipulation, undemocratic process, bullying, bribing and fundamentally following unethical means.
Congress sources said that several other party leaders including Rahul Gandhi would visit the poll bound Manipur next week.
The two-phase elections to the 60-seat Manipur assembly would be held on February 28 and March 5 and the counting of votes would take place on March 10.
