On a day when he was declared president-elect of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi promised universal healthcare to crowds in Gujarat, also reiterating that a Congress government in the State would provide better prices for farm produce and more jobs for youth.
The 47-year-old sought to draw a distinction between the focus of the Narendra Modi government, which the Congress leader described as corporate-centric, and the farmer-friendly approach of his own party.
“Modiji has waived ₹1.30-lakh crore [wortyh of loans] of the country’s top 10 industrialists. But when a small farmer pleads for farm loan waiver of ₹15,000 or ₹10,000, Jaitleyji says that is not the policy of the BJP. But I tell, you Congress has a policy to waive farmers’ loans... after 10 days of forming a government in Gujarat, we will prepare a policy to waive the farm loans,” he told a gathering at Tharad in Banaskantha district on Monday.
In Viramgam, a town barely 70 km from Ahmedabad, Rahul promised the youth more jobs, affordable healthcare and remunerative agricultural prices.
Attempting to reap the support of the Patidar community and the popularity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rahul promised to launch ‘Sardar Patel Universal Health Card’ for affordable/free health care for all. “...you will get free medicines at government hospitals and free operations too. Ashok Gehlot ji (former Rajasthan CM and the Congress’ in-charge of Gujarat) has successfully done it in Rajasthan,” he said. Attacking the PM, the Congress leader said: “Unlike [the style of functioning of] Mod ji , there won’t be much marketing. But you will see the work get done.”
Rahul repeatedly mocked Prime Minister Modi for focusing on himself and Congress-bashing rather than addressing the real issues of Gujarat.
“In his speeches, Modi ji speaks of only two things. Half the time, he speaks of the Congress. Why does he spend so much time on the Congress, when he claims he has decimated the Congress? Secondly, all we find in Modi ji ’s speeches is Modi ji himself. When will he speak about the future of Gujarat?” Rahul asked.
As news of his election as the Congress’ next president was announced in Delhi, Rahul spent the day with the voters in Gujarat’s North and Central Gujarat regions, which will vote in the second phase of elections on December 14.