SRINAGAR: Congress’s star campaigner and former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing politics of vendetta and hatred. He also criticised the government for deferring state elections and downgrading the erstwhile state into two union territories.
Addressing twin rallies in Kathua and bordering Suchetgarh in favour of Congress candidates Choudary Lal Singh and Raman Bhalla, who are vying for Udhampur and Jammu seats respectively, Pilot criticised the BJP leaders for allegedly using religion for political gains.
“The BJP leaders centre their politics on issues like Mandir-Masjid, Hindu-Muslim, Hindustan and Pakistan. However, they show little interest in issues concerning schools, colleges, hospitals, economy, employment, women, youth, farmers, and inflation,” the Congress leader claimed.
Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent announcement regarding Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election and Statehood, Pilot said, “It’s not any privilege but the legitimate right of people and importantly the announcement came after the Supreme Court (SC) directed the government to conduct assembly elections by September 30.”
“BJP leaders came here and told you about holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, but I want to tell you that elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held before September this year. It is not the government saying so but the order of the Supreme Court,” Pilot said, adding, “In a similar way, the Ram temple was built after the Supreme Court’s judgment.
Pilot also accused BJP of playing politics of vendetta and hatred and said that the party had two MPs during Rajiv Gandhi’s time but Congress never raised the slogan of BJP Mukt Bharat.
He said BJP has destroyed the democratic culture of the country by its mission to target only opposition leaders.
He also stated that the Election Commission (EC) has remained silent when the accounts of the main opposition party were frozen and elected chief ministers were sent to jail.
“The Election Commission is watching as a mute spectator. In connection with the Chandigarh mayoral elections, we had to move to the Supreme Court for justice, and we got it. They sealed the accounts of the Congress, put elected chief ministers in jail, and tried to muzzle the opposition,” Pilot said.
Highlighting the Congress manifesto, Pilot mentioned five major announcements, including a guarantee that women from poor families would receive Rs 1 lakh in their accounts annually. “Under the rule of the Lieutenant Governor, outsiders are encroaching lands. Lands that are being cultivated are being snatched from the people and given to outsiders,” he further alleged. (KNO)
