Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India]: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the Centre of “working against Jharkhand” and “not giving Rs 1.36 lakh crore dues” to the state.
Addressing a press conference here on the last day of campaign for assembly polls in Jharkhand, Rahul Gandhi sought support for the JMM-led alliance and said the electoral battle in the state is between two ideologies.
Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, repeated the party’s promise of conducting a caste survey and said quota will be increased or SCs, STs and OBCs while his party will work towards ending 50 per cent quota limit.
“This election is an election of ideologies. On one side is the INDIA alliance which is protecting the Constitution and wants to run a government of the poor and the tribals. On the other side are those forces which want to crush the Constitution. Senior leaders of the BJP and the RSS have said that they want to change the Constitution. We have said that we will conduct a caste census and remove the 50 per cent reservation limit,” he said.
“In Jharkhand, we will increase the ST reservation from 26 per cent to 28 per cent, SC reservation from 10 per cent to 12 per cent and OBC reservation from 14 per cent to 27 per cent,” he added.
The Congress leader also reiterated the promises of JMM-led alliance of increasing MSP of paddy.
“Today the MSP of paddy for farmers is Rs 2400 per quintal. In the coming time when our government will be formed, our government will give Rs 3200 per quintal to the farmers of Jharkhand for paddy…In the next 5 years, we will try to give employment to 10 lakh youth…Rs 1.36 lakh crore belongs to the Jharkhand government, the central government is not giving this money, this is land compensation money, coal royalty money and the BJP government is working against Jharkhand,” he said.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren had earlier urged the Centre to clear Rs 1.36 lakh-crore “coal dues” to the state and also written a letter on the issue.
Rahul Gandhi also held a press conference in Mumbai and attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “ek hain to safe hain” remarks.
Gandhi framed the election as a contest between the aspirations of the common people and the influence of a few wealthy individuals, particularly industrialist Gautam Adani.
“The Maharashtra election is an election of ideologies and an election between 1-2 billionaires and the poor. The billionaires want the land of Mumbai to go into their hands. The estimate is that Rs 1 lakh crores will be given to one billionaire. Our thinking is that Maharashtra, the farmers of Maharashtra, the poor, the unemployed, and the youth need help,” Gandhi said.
The Jharkhand Assembly election is taking place in two phases. The first phase was held on November 13, and the second phase is scheduled for November 20.
Votes will be counted on November 23.