Rahul Accuses PM of Trying to Topple Himachal's Govt

Rahul launches an attack on PM, alleging he attempted to topple the government in Himachal Pradesh.

Rahul Gandhi accused PM Narendra Modi of establishing "illegitimate" governments in Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh as well.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi waived loans worth ₹16 lakh crore for 22 wealthy individuals over the past decade but failed to provide ₹9,000 crore to Himachal Pradesh for monsoon disaster relief last year.

Gandhi claimed that instead of assisting the hill state, Modi attempted to "steal" its elected government, openly declaring at rallies his intention to topple the Congress regime in Himachal Pradesh.

The former Congress chief referred to Modi’s speeches in Nahan and Mandi on Friday, where the Prime Minister asserted that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh would be short-lived. Modi also alleged that the state government mishandled the distribution of central flood aid and vowed to take action.

“The Prime Minister says he will bring down the Himachal Pradesh government through stealing, bribery, and corruption,” Gandhi said, accusing Modi of forming "illegitimate" governments in Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Gandhi addressed election rallies in Nahan and Una to support Congress candidates Vinod Sultanpuri and Satpal Raizada for the Shimla and Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively, and to seek votes for party candidates Rakesh Kalia and Vivek in the Gagret and Kutlehar assembly bypolls.

Elections for all four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh will take place on June 1, marking the final phase of the ongoing general elections.

The Congress leader accused Modi of allowing one person, apparently referring to industrialist Gautam Adani, to control apple prices by owning cold storage facilities in the state. He claimed that the share prices of Adani-owned companies rise whenever Modi becomes Prime Minister.

Gandhi alleged that under the BJP-led central government, only the dreams of 22 people were fulfilled while the rest of the country's population remained mere spectators. He accused Modi of exacerbating unemployment by favoring Adani, dismantling small and medium businesses, and implementing measures like demonetization and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

“Modi waived loans worth ₹16 lakh crore for 22 people in the last 10 years but couldn’t provide ₹9,000 crore to Himachal Pradesh for monsoon disaster relief,” Gandhi said. Extreme rainfall last July and August devastated Himachal Pradesh, resulting in over 550 deaths and causing extensive damage to private and public infrastructure.

Gandhi promised that scrapping the Agniveer short-term military recruitment scheme would be the Congress party’s top priority upon assuming power at the Centre. He also pledged a legal guarantee on minimum support prices for crops, farm loan waivers, ₹1 lakh annually for poor families until they escape poverty, and filling 30 lakh government vacancies to provide jobs for unemployed youth.

Speaking at the Nahan rally, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu stated that Gandhi instructed him to ensure that the government reaches every individual in society. Sukhu criticized the BJP for allegedly plotting to remove the Congress government in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri remarked that Gandhi has fiercely opposed dictatorship and asserted that people are voting for the Congress.

Former BJP minister Suresh Bhardwaj retaliated, accusing Gandhi of resorting to personal attacks. Bhardwaj also took a dig at the Congress leader over his choice of a smaller venue compared to the areas where Modi’s rallies are held.