The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)

Rahul: BJP wants to destroy Constituti­on, scrap reservatio­n

CONGRESS LEADER Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that the BJP wants to "destroy" the Constituti­on and scrap the reservatio­n provided to tribals, Dalits, and backward class.

Addressing an election rally in Odisha’s Bolangir, Rahul claimed that if the BJP wins this election, it will privatise the public sector entities and the country will be run by 22 billionair­es.

“BJP wants to tear this book, but we in Congress and the people of India will not allow it,” he said pointing to the Constituti­on in his hand.

Rahul said that whatever the country’s poor, Dalits, tribals, minorities, farmers and labourers have received till now, it is due to the Constituti­on.

“If BJP wins, the reservatio­n will be scrapped, the public sector will be privatised, and the country will be run by 22 billionair­es. That’s why the people’s government should be formed,” he added.

Rahul claimed that loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore of 22 billionair­es were waived off under the Bjp-led government, and the amount was equivalent to MGNREGA wages of 24 years.

“They have not given anything to the people. They have not waived off the loans of farmers and students. Forget waiver, they even did not provide loans to small businesses,” he claimed.

Rahul said the money collected through GST from the common people was going to only two-three persons.

Rahul said if the Congress is voted to power it will conduct a caste census to provide proper representa­tion to Dalits, tribals and backward classes. “After the census, a revolution­ary democracy or people's rule will begin in the country,” he said.

He said that handing over airports to industrial­ists and giving defence contracts to private entities were being showcased as developmen­t by the BJP.

“While they have worked for 22 billionair­es, we are going to create crores of 'lakhpatis'," Rahul said amid a loud cheer from the people.

Claiming that the INDIA bloc would form the government on June 4, he said, "Soon after, we will make a list of poor families and a woman of each of these families will be provided with an assistance of Rs 8,500 per month.”