Rae Bareli (UP), Feb 21:
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks to the US press on the controversy involving Adani Group, saying it was not a “personal matter” but one about the country.
Gandhi made the remarks while addressing youths at an event in the Lalganj area during the second day of his visit to his parliamentary constituency.
He was referring to PM Modi’s media interaction during his recent US visit when he was quizzed about discussions with US President Donald Trump and the ongoing controversy about the Adani Group. The prime minister said it was “an individual issue” and such issues are not discussed when two world leaders meet.
“Narendra Modi ji, this is not a personal matter. It’s a matter of the country,” Gandhi said.
He alleged that PM Modi told the American press that business tycoon Gautam Adani was his friend he would not ask Trump anything about him.
A case of “corruption and theft” was pending against Adani in the US, Gandhi further alleged.
“And what our PM says, it’s an individual matter and we don’t discuss it! Had he truly been India’s prime minister, he would have asked Trump about the matter and told him that he would get it enquired and if needed send him (to the US) for inquiry. But no, he said it’s a personal matter,” Gandhi told the audience.
Rahul Gandhi expressed concern over the unemployment in the country and dubbed the Indian government’s policy of demonetisation and GST as ‘wrong.’ He said that small and medium businesses need to be revived in order to generate more jobs.
“Why are you unemployed? Because Narendra Modi did demonetisation, implement wrong GST and ended all small businesses. Today you have no future because of Narendra Modi. If you want jobs, small and medium businesses must be revived and supported. GST needs to be changed and the doors of banks which are closed for you need to be opened,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Earlier in the day, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi engaged with local students and residents of his Lok Sabha constituency, Raebareli, sparking conversations about education, employment, and community development.
School students and other members of the community shared their experiences of the interaction, highlighting Rahul Gandhi’s assurances and support for their concerns, particularly in the areas of education and livelihood.
A school student told ANI, “He (Rahul Gandhi) asked me the importance of a disciplined captain. I said that a discipline captain provides discipline on the school campus. Then he told me that the discipline will make the path of success for me.”
Mohammad Ausaf Khan, the Manager at Human Public School in Raebareli, mentioned that they presented their school’s needs to the Congress MP, who assured them of his support.
“We wanted to invite him (Rahul) to a program at our school because education has always been a concern for him, and we also believe that education is the backbone of any community. He has also offered to help us. We need some computer labs and a library. The children also spoke to him, and he assured us that whatever can be done in this regard, he will do,” Khan said.
