None can stop us from giving Special category status to AP: Rahul Gandhi

Tirupati: Congress president Rahul Gandhi lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having gone back on his assurance given from the foot hills of Lord Venkateswara and said no force on the earth could stop the Congress from giving special category status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh if it comes to power at the Centre.

Addressing a well-attended public meeting here on Friday, Rahul said giving SCS to Andhra Pradesh is not mere fulfilling of a promise by the Congress or the fulfilment of Prime Minister’s commitment, but it was a promise made by every single citizen of the country to the people of Andhra Pradesh. 

The Congress president said, “It does not matter to us (Congress) which party is ruling in Andhra Pradesh but what matters is fulfilment of the promise,’’ he said.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that when a terror attack was reported in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, Modi was posing and smiling for the cameras. "For three and half hours after our CRPF personnel were killed, the PM posed before the cameras, smiled for the cameras; laughed for the cameras and filmed a movie about himself," the Congress chief said. “PM also did not find time so far to go and call on the families of the martyrs,” he added.

"Making a movie, smiling and laughing was more important for him than helping the families of the jawans," he said. Taking a jibe at Modi, the Congress chief said, "These are the people who call themselves nationalists."

Rahul Gandhi in his 22-minute speech took on Narendra Modi for failing miserably to adhere to his commitment not only to the people of AP on SCS but on other promises as well. He said the Prime Minister should be the voice of billions of people. Giving commitment by a Prime Minister means commitment of every single Indian. “If PM speaks, it means India speaks. But by breaking the promise he made everyone speechless,’’ he said. 

The Congress chief said that Modi had assured to usher in ‘Ache Din,’ unearth black money, remit Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts of every individual, promised to provide two crore new jobs every year, ensure remunerative price to farmers for their produce, and came up with slogans like Make in India, Clean India, Start Up India, Sit up India, etc, but did nothing to get them materialized.

At the end of his five-year term, people, whether it be in villages or in market places or suburbs or towns, are openly saying ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’, Rahul said.

He said Modi did not waive off farmer’s loans, but he waived off loans of big business houses to the tune of Rs 3.5 lakh core. Referring to the Rafael deal, he alleged that the Rs 30000-crore contract was given to favour Anil Ambani at the cost of Hindustan Aeronautic Limited, a PSU.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi went to Tirumala on foot and offered prayers. He said he was blessed by the lord and was moved by the affection people had shown towards him. Rainhan Vadra, son of Priyanka Gandhi, was with Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Tirupati.