New Delhi: Launching a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said there was no difference between the two as both were “cowards and corrupt”.
Addressing a public meeting in Mustafabad, Priyanka Gandhi said while Modi kept blaming India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Kejriwal blamed Modi.
However, neither takes any responsibility, she said.
Priyanka Gandhi entered the poll campaign for the Delhi assembly election by first leading a roadshow in Nangloi Jat for Rohit Chaudhary and then campaigning for Ali Mehdi in Mustafabad.
The BJP’s politics has always been one of creating divisions, she said in Mustafabad, which had been hit by riots in 2020.
The Congress general secretary said that while AAP leaders talked about Modi’s ‘Rajmahal’ and BJP leaders about Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’, none of them spoke about the real issues of the people.
The issues being discussed by the BJP and AAP are who indulged in corruption and who built a bigger ‘mahal’, she said.
“Think who is talking about your issues. Are these your issues? Who is making allegations against whom? Who understands your pain? They are trying to divide people. Someone says ‘I was insulted’ while another says someone else was insulted,” she said.
Someone is trying to divide Hindus and Muslims but they are not talking about roads, clean water, children’s education, strengthening businesses and employment, Priyanka Gandhi said.
“You know under what circumstances AAP was formed and Kejriwal ji rose as a leader — by talking against corruption. Now, what is the difference between him and Modi?” she asked.
The prime minister says Nehru is to be blamed for everything and takes no responsibility, Priyanka Gandhi alleged and claimed that Modi never said what he did in the last 10 years.
“He (Modi) talks about what happened under Congress governments of the past. Kejriwal ji blames Modi ji. Modi ji has found Nehru ji and Kejriwal ji has found Modi ji but who is working for the people and taking responsibility?” she asked.
“Indira Gandhi used to say there are two types of people — one who works quietly and the other who makes excuses and takes credit for others’ works. Now, are Modi and Kejriwal the first type or the second? … The second type… They do not take responsibility,” she asserted.
Priyanka Gandhi said both Kejriwal and Modi were the type of leaders who would look after their own interests first before thinking about the people.
Modi and Kejriwal call themselves “leaders” when a “leader” is one who takes responsibility, does not make people fight, does not divert attention, shows how he is working to alleviate people’s problems, Priyanka Gandhi said.
“A leader is one who is fearless, does not get scared. Have you seen Rahul Gandhi? He is a leader. Someone may like it or not, he never shies away from speaking the truth,” she asserted.
“They (Modi and Kejriwal) are cowards, they are the same, they are corrupt. They will work for themselves and then think about the people,” she said.
Priyanka Gandhi also listed the achievements during the 15 years of the Congress government led by Sheila Dikshit in Delhi.
She asserted that the Congress did what it promised and fulfilled all its guarantees in states such as Telangana and Karnataka, urging people to vote for the party’s Mustafabad candidate Mehdi.
She also slammed the BJP and AAP for lacking in democracy and functioning in a centralised manner.
Priyanka Gandhi further attacked Modi and Kejriwal on issues related to state of the country’s economy, inflation, unemployment and corruption.
“Today, AAP and the BJP are taking credit for the work done by Sheila Dikshit ji. No new work has been done in Delhi in the past 10 years. The work done by Sheila Dikshit ji in Delhi is in front of you,” she said.
The Congress leader claimed that India’s economy was collapsing, the rupee falling, monthly installments becoming expensive, stock market declining, tax burden increasing and GST being imposed on every item.
The public is being constantly weakened, she said.
“Our Constitution was made for everyone, in which everyone has equal rights. The Constitution has given you the power of vote, through which you choose your government. Your vote can strengthen the Constitution or weaken it. Therefore, you have to make your decision very thoughtfully in the polls,” Priyanka Gandhi said.
Elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly will be held on February 5, and the votes counted on February 8.
