JAIPUR
With the laying of foundation stone for its new headquarters building in Jaipur, the Congress on Saturday launched its mega campaign for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan. Addressing a gathering of party workers, Congress’ former president Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and other prominent leaders came down heavily on the Modi government and BJP. They claimed that the Congress would repeat its government in Rajasthan.
These leaders performed a puja to mark the ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the Congress office in the Mansarovar area here. Addressing Congress workers, Rahul Gandhi focused on caste census. He alleged that the Modi government is running away from the caste census. Rahul Gandhi also hit out at industrialist Gautam Adani and his links with PM Modi. Rahul Gandhi also admired Gehlot for his schemes such as Chiranjeevi Swasthya Yojana, loan waiver for farmers, gas cylinders for Rs 500, free power up to 100 units, etc.
Rahul Gandhi also attended a function at Maharani College here. Rahul Gandhi was welcomed by Kharge, general secretary K.C. Venugopal, CM Gehlot, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, State Congress president Govind Singh Dorasra and former PCC chief Sachin Pilot. There was a massive crowd at the event. He boosted the morale of the workers by calling them “Babbar Sher”. He said that “we are opening ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukan’ while the BJP is spreading hatred”. Referring to suspension of his Lok Sabha membership, Rahul Gandhi said “They are afraid of me.” Criticising the central government, Rahul Gandhi said: “When the issue of changing India’s name as Bharat flopped, the government brought a women’s quota bill to divert the attention of the public.” The Congress and I.N.D.I.A alliance partners wholeheartedly supported the bill, but the government does not want to implement it soon, Rahul Gandhi said. He demanded reservation for OBC. He said that caste census should be carried out immediately. He reiterated that only 3 of 90 secretaries in the central government are OBCs. He said the party would continue to raise this issue. However, other leaders did not speak much on the issue. Kharge alleged that the central government is trying to scare the Opposition with ED and other agencies. “We are not afraid of this,” he added. He targeted the government over injustice to OBCs. CM Gehlot assured the entire Congress is working like a family and the party will definitely win polls. He said: “We are following the path of ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukan’ as shown by Rahul Gandhi.”