Key Takeaways
- JP Nadda attacked the Congress for dynastic politics and alleged dishonesty.
- He listed several states where family members dominate parties, citing examples from Bihar to Maharashtra.
- Nadda praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s development schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and PMKISAN.
Khargone (MP): The Congress in particular came under devastating fire on Friday when BJP President JP Nadda endeavoured to decimate the Opposition by raising issues such as dynastic politics and corruption through a broadside of sarcasm-laced allegations.
Addressing a public meeting at the headquarters of this tribal-dominated district of election-bound Madhya Pradesh, the visiting leader – while speaking on ‘service, good governance and welfare of the indigent’ during nine years of BJP rule at the Centre – said, “The Congress is no longer a national party because it is governed by the mother Sonia, the son Rahul and the daughter Priyanka while the remainder leaders are employed contractually and on a payroll.”
Turning his gun specifically on “poor” Mr Rahul Gandhi, the seasoned politician quipped that the former is so “extremely intelligent and educated” that he said during his England sojourn that democracy should be ‘saved’ in India.
“His paternal grandmother Indira imposed Emergency during which 1.78 lakh people adhering to our ideology were incarcerated for no less than 19 months. The Congress experiences abdominal cramps when it observes the development being achieved in present-day India. Mr Rahul and others used expressions such as ‘lowly’, ‘scorpion’, ‘snake’, ‘uneducated’ and ‘tea-seller’ for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They demand evidence of surgical strikes,” Mr Nadda alleged.
Touching on ‘dynastic politics’, the BJP top boss said that in Bihar only members of RJD supremo Mr Lalu Prasad’s family can emerge.
In the TMC, it’s only West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her relatives who rule the roost.
As far as the SP is concerned, it’s Mr Akhilesh Yadav and his spouse Dimple – even a paternal uncle was cold‑shouldered.
In Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, his son KT Rama Rao and other kin dominate.
The DMK sees Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and his son in power.
In Andhra Pradesh, YS Rajasekhara Reddy was succeeded by his son Jagan Mohan, and in Maharashtra the Shiv Sena’s Bal Thackeray was succeeded by his son Uddhav.
“The Congress spoke the untruth that funds left by Indira Gandhi after her demise were utilised for the Indira Awas Yojana. Nine years back, we ranked among the most corrupt countries. Earlier, playthings and even idols of Lord Ganesh were imported from China. When the then Prime Minister journeyed abroad, discussions would centre on Pakistan, terrorism and obstruction of development,” Mr Nadda said.
In the Madhya Pradesh context, he alleged that the erstwhile Kamal Nath dispensation was nothing short of a roadblock to development.
“Funding for 1.28 lakh dwellings was returned to the Centre. Mr Nath is a criminal, is he not? His corrupt regime made a hollow promise regarding agrarian debt waiver. Those ‘patriots’ deleted the chapter on the (1999) Kargil conflict from the state’s textbooks. Does this not constitute an insult to our soldier brethren? A scam was perpetrated in the irrigation sphere; mafias were active vis-à-vis chit funds, land, liquor, ration and adulteration. The Ladli Laxmi Yojana was placed on the backburner,” the BJP head said.
Highlighting the Modi administration’s achievements, Mr Nadda claimed that pro-responsive and pro-active governments are in power at the Centre and in this state. He mentioned milestones crossed under PMGSY, PMGKAY, PMKISAN, PMUY, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, JJM, employment, education, energy and connectivity.
Mr Nadda commenced his 38-minute-long address by bowing to Rani Ahilyabai Holkar. Prior to this gathering, he Nadda participated in a road show. Among the dignitaries present were BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
