KASARGODE (Kerala), Apr 5: Mounting attack on the BJP and CPI(M), Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi today said while the Left is not going to play any major role in Indian politics after the elections, the saffron party was trying to divide society by stoking anger.
Addressing his first rally for the Lok Sabha polls in Kerala at the northernmost Kasargode, Gandhi said the victory of the CPI(M) would only indirectly help the BJP as the Left was not going to have any significant role at the Centre.
Coming down heavily on BJP for allegedly pursuing divisive politics, he said, in sharp contrast, the Congress stood for taking the nation forward through the partnership of all sections.
In Kasargode Congress has its youth leader T Siddique against sitting CPI(M) MP P Karunakaran.
Without naming BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, he said “I heard the other day one leader saying he wants to be the chowkidar (gatekeeper) of India. But I will say that the Congress party wants all people of India to be the nation’s chowkidars. We believe in millions of India.”
Apparently alluding to allegation of politics of violence indulged in by the CPI(M) in Kerala, Gandhi said there was no place for violence and intimidation in a democratic polity.
Dwelling on a series of welfare initiatives like RTI and Right to Food brought in by the UPA Government in the last ten years, Gandhi said if voted to power, the party would make a few more legislations for making access to health and medicine the people’s right.
Taking potshots at the NDA’s India shining campaign in the past, he said for them the shining was only for the few whereas the UPA wanted all people to prosper and become partners in the onward march of the country.
“For any society to move forward, we need prosperity and justice… We are not for an India where the prosperity is limited for a few…If you look at the history of UPA in the last ten years you can see that a balance had been struck between prosperity and justice…The opposition is surprised how we have been successful in striking this balance,” he said.
In the last 10 years, UPA had been able to bring 15 crore people above the poverty line and if voted back to power, another 70 crore would be lifted, he claimed.
Criticising the CPI(M), Gandhi said “CPI(M) is not going to play a major role in the national politics (after Lok Sabha polls)…And hopefully CPI(M) will not play a major role in Kasargod politics also.”
Pointing out that there were many things from Kerala to be learnt by the country, he said,”the politics in Kerala, and the participation of panchayat in the politics of Kerala is something the rest of the country should model.”
He said he had personally visited a panchayat in Thrissur and was greatly impressed by its functioning.
There should be development in Kasargod, but it must help the people, he said, adding, there was great potential in Kasargod like good roads, sea access and land was available for it to become a major industrial hub just like Bangalore in Karnataka.
Referring to endosulfan pesticide victims in Kasargod, he said his party was committed for their rehabilitation.
Lauding the Congress-led United Democratic Front Government in the state, Rahul said the UDF had been doing an excellent job in bring development in the state and has brought several welfare projects for the people.
Presiding over the meeting, KPCC President V M Sudheeran said government will move ahead with rehabilitation programme for the endosulfan victims.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy urged the people to teach the CPI(M) a lesson for their ‘politics of violence’ by defeating their nominees in the elections.
Earlier, Gandhi arrived at the venue by helicopter from Mangalore.
On a one-day whirlwind tour of Kerala, besides Kasargode, he would address meetings at Kattappana, Chengannor and Attingal. (PTI)
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