Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asserted on Friday that the Bharatiya Janata Party lacks unity in Rajasthan and lacks a chief ministerial face for the upcoming state Assembly polls. She also mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's frequent visits, suggesting he is searching for a face for the BJP.
"The BJP is a scattered party in Rajasthan and it does not have a face for the chief minister's post. The prime minister is roaming every corner of the state. Sometimes, it seems that he is out to find his chief ministerial face," Gandhi stated at a poll rally in Sagwara, Dungarpur district.
She emphasized the need for local leadership, stating, "Modi is seeking votes in his name. Who will run the state? He will not come from Delhi to run the state, a local leader is needed for that."
Gandhi cautioned voters against emotional and religious manipulation in politics. She urged them to scrutinize whether such appeals genuinely serve their interests or merely exploit emotions and religion for votes.
"If emotions and religion are used in politics, one has to be careful. If your emotions are being used, then you will have to be careful and think whether they are working for you or just taking the name of religion," she said.
Critiquing the BJP-led Centre, she highlighted nationwide suffering due to inflation, urging voters to choose leaders committed to working for them, not just focusing on religion.
"The situation in the country is such that a farmer earns an average of Rs 27 a day and big industrialists like (Gautam) Adani, who is a special friend of Modi, earns Rs 16,000 crore a day. The government provides complete assistance to him and loans are waived. The same government says it does not have the money to waive the loans of farmers," Gandhi said. "When you are in trouble, they turn their backs on you," she said.
Gandhi blamed the Centre's policies for inflation and credited the Congress government in Rajasthan for addressing the issue through relief camps and loan waivers for farmers. She warned that if the BJP comes to power in Rajasthan, the Congress initiatives for public welfare would be discontinued.
Accusing Modi of selling public properties to industrialists like Gautam Adani, Gandhi emphasized the need to protect cultural values and criticized the BJP for prioritizing corporate interests over public welfare.
She also reminisced about her grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and recited the Gayatri Mantra, emphasizing the importance of respecting the culture of all religions.
"Gayatri mata protects our culture. My grandmother used to say that the culture of all religions should be respected. Today, 40 years have passed since Indira's martyrdom. The whole country remembers her because she kept the country in her heart as a family," she said.
The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is scheduled for polls on November 25, with vote counting on December 3.
