Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the November 2016 demonetisation and the “wrong GST” that was in force were “weapons” of capitalists that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had implemented.
“The demonetisation and the GST were the biggest attacks by two or three big capitalists of India on small and medium-scale businessmen,” Rahul told a Congress rally at Dehradun in poll-bound Uttarakhand.
Rahul referred simply to “GST” most of the time as he attacked the Modi government but qualified the term, saying “galat (wrong) GST”, a couple of times. The GST was an UPA idea, but the Congress opposes the form in which the current government implemented it.
“The people of Uttarakhand migrate elsewhere because there is no employment…. The small, middle-sized businessmen and shopkeepers who could give you jobs have been finished by Narendra Modi and the BJP government,” Rahul said.
“The demonetisation and the GST are the weapons of capitalists, and Narendra Modi was their implementer.”
The rally had been organised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India’s defeat of Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh.
Rahul said India was able to win the war in just 13 days because it was united and Pakistan was not, using the example to attack the Modi government for “dividing” the country.
He rued that an official Vijay Divas celebration at the National War Memorial in Delhi on Thursday seemed to have forgotten Indira Gandhi, who was Prime Minister when India won the war.
“I cannot forget how I was told in school that Indira Gandhi had taken 32 bullets (when she was assassinated on October 31, 1984). This lady took 32 bullets for the country but was not mentioned in the function today in Delhi,” the Congress leader said.
“However, it doesn’t bother me because I know that this government fears something.”
He went on: “In the Bangladesh War, Pakistan bowed its head within 13 days. Normally a war continues for six months or one year, sometimes 2-3 years. It took America 20 years in Afghanistan.
“But we shouldn’t forget what exactly happened in the war of 1971. People from every caste and religion came together to ensure our victory. Lakhs of families donated gold to the government.
“Brothers and sisters, don’t forget that we wouldn’t have won in 13 days if India were divided and people were fighting each other…. We won in 13 days because Pakistan was divided…. East and West Pakistan were fighting with each other and they were weak.
“It’s sad that the government today is working for two-three capitalists and dividing the country. One brother is made to fight another; weak people are being attacked.
“Why is this happening? Three black farm laws, the demonetisation, the wrong GST and the tax waivers for some industrialists during the pandemic — they are an attack by big industrialists on small shopkeepers, poor farmers and labourers.”
Rahul said what bound him to the people of Uttarakhand was qurbani (sacrifice).
“While coming here, I remembered that my grandmother (Indira Gandhi) became a martyr for the country on October 31 (1984). Then I remembered that my father (former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi) laid down his life on May 21 (1991) for the country. My relation with you is that of sacrifice,” he said.
Uttarakhand sends a large number of recruits to the defence forces every year.
“My family made the same sacrifices, which thousands and thousands of families of Uttarakhand have done. Those who have lost their kin and given their blood would understand this relationship much better,” Rahul said.
He also underscored that he had studied at Doon School, Dehradun.
