A file photo of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
| Photo Credit: PTI

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the BJP-led Centre over its proposal to borrow more than ₹14 lakh crore, asking why the government is “drowning the people in debt” the “burden of unemployment, inflation and economic crisis” is increasing.

In her budget speech last month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to borrow ₹14.13 lakh crore by issuing dated securities to meet a revenue shortfall in the next financial year starting April 1.

In a post in Hindi on X on March 30, Ms. Gandhi said, “The Finance Ministry stated that the government is going to borrow more than ₹14 lakh crore in the current financial year. Why?” In the 67 years since independence till 2014, the country’s total debt was ₹55 lakh crore, the Congress general secretary said while pointing out that in the last decade, the Narendra Modi government increased it to ₹205 lakh crore. The Modi government has borrowed about ₹150 lakh crore in the last 10 years, she claimed.

“Today, every citizen of the country has an average debt of about ₹1.5 lakh. For which aspect of nation-building was this money used?” she asked on the microblogging platform. Were jobs created on a large scale or did jobs disappear, she asked. “Has the income of farmers doubled? Are schools and hospitals given a facelift? Has the public sector been strengthened or weakened? Have big factories and industries been set up?” she asked.

Also read: Modi government promised to double farm income by 2022 but it has only come down: Congress

If this has not happened, if the core sectors of the economy are seen to be in a state of disrepair, if the labour force has declined, if small and medium businesses have been destroyed, then where has this money gone, the Congress leader asked. “On whom was it spent? How much money was written off in this? How much money was spent on loan waivers for big billionaires?” she asked further.

“Now, when the Centre is preparing to borrow, the question arises that why is the BJP government drowning the people in debt when instead of providing relief to them, the burden of unemployment, inflation and economic crisis kept on increasing in the last 10 years,” she said.

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh:

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday launched a veiled attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over dynasty politics and said that it’s not about nepotism, it is the devotion towards the country which cannot be diminished.

“When we talk about our ancestors, then those who criticize us talk about dynasty politics. This is not nepotism, this is a devotion towards the country that cannot be finished,” the Congress leader said while addressing a public rally in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur.

She also gave examples of sacrifices made by her family while referring to her grandmother, Indira Gandhi and her father Rajiv Gandhi, both were former Prime Ministers of India.

“I always think that such a violent incident happened with us but our grandmother has filled our hearts with such patriotic sentiment that even for once our faith towards our country didn’t diminish. After seven years of her passing away, when I was 19, a similar incident happened with my father, still, my faith in this country didn’t diminish,” the Congress leader said while addressing a public rally in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur.

Hitting out the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi said that the party didn’t think of helping women in the last 18 years, and now since the elections are near they are starting schemes in favour of women of the state.

“There has been a BJP government in Madhya Pradesh for 18 years. The BJP government has not thought of helping women in 18 years. Now the scheme was started two months before the elections and money is being given to women,” the Congress leader said.

Meanwhile, the Congress also announced eight benefits for the people of the poll-bound state of Chhattisgarh.

These benefits include a subsidy of Rs 500 on refilling cylinders. Free electricity up to 200 units, and free electricity up to 200 units per month on high consumption. Loans taken under women’s self-help groups and the Saksham scheme were waived off.

The Establishment of 700 new rural industrial parks in Swami Atmanand will upgrade all government schools into English and Hindi medium schools. Free treatment will be provided in case of road accidents and emergencies. Loans worth Rs 726 crore for 6,600 vehicle owners associated with the transport business till the year 2018 were also waived off and lastly, the Congress leader said that ‘Tivara’ will also be purchased on MSP.

Chhattisgarh is scheduled to hold polls in two phases on November 7 and 17. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all five poll-bound states. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates.

Earlier in the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress witnessed a landslide victory in Chhattisgarh, winning 68 seats out of 90 of those against the then-ruling BJP, which acquired 15 seats.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Jaipur (Rajasthan):

Taking a dig at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Rajasthan chief minister and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje on Monday said while the Congress makes many promises to the people before elections, there are no guarantees that they would be fulfilled if they win.

Speaking to ANI on Monday, the senior BJP leader said, “A few days ago, Priyanka Gandhi visited Rajasthan. She expressed concern over the state of women in Rajasthan, which is under Congress rule currently. If they (Rajasthan govt) had implemented the (Centre’s) ‘Nari Shakti’ scheme in earnest, it would have helped the women of Rajasthan. Whenever she and her brother (Rahul Gandhi) come visiting the state, they make plenty of promises to the people. However, with the Congress, there’s no guarantee that they would deliver on their promises if elected.”

Claiming that the Congress government did not waive off farmer loans despite being in power for five years, Ms Raje, who is seeking a fresh term in the Assembly from the Jhalrapatan constituency, added, “Owing to rising crimes against women in the state, families fear for the safety of their female members.”

Addressing an election rally in Jhunjhunu earlier, Priyanka Gandhi announced that the Congress would give Rs 10,000 annually to women as honorarium if elected in the state.

The polls for the 200-member assembly in Rajasthan will be held on November 25.

The counting of votes, along with those of four other poll-bound states, will take place on December 3.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Ranchi:

In a veiled attack on Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, BJP national president JP Nadda wondered whether she had gone to any temple with religious belief, instead of embarking on “election tourism”.

The BJP has recently lodged a complaint to the Election Commission accusing her of claiming in a public rally in poll-bound Rajasthan that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dropped an envelope of donation containing only Rs 21 to Bhilwara’s Devnarayan temple.

Addressing a public rally here, JP Nadda said, “Have you ever seen that leader (Priyanka Gandhi) going to a temple with complete religious belief or speaking anything to protect any temple?” Religious sentiments of Congress leaders are related to “election tourism”, he claimed.

“The atrocities committed on women by the Ashok Gehlot government (in Rajasthan) can never be forgotten. But when the election has come, she is making herself part of the election tourism,” JP Nadda said.

Rajasthan is ruled by the Congress and the BJP is making efforts to defeat it in the November 25 elections.

“On January 28, the PM had participated in a programme of Bhagwan Devnarayan who was born on lotus. Even the priest said he has no knowledge about money donated by the PM,” JP Nadda said.

The priest of Bhilwara’s Devnarayan temple on Friday accused Priyanka Gandhi of concocting a story about an envelope of donation dropped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi containing only Rs 21.

In its submission to the EC, the BJP said Priyanka Gandhi told a public meeting in Dausa on October 20 that she saw on TV that when an envelope of donation made by Modi at a temple was opened, it carried only Rs 21. She added that she saw the news and is not aware if the claim is true or not, the BJP’s complaint read.

The EC on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to the Congress general secretary over her “envelope” remarks. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi along with the party’s general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has arrived in Chennai to attend the DMK Women’s Rights Conference on Saturday.

They were received by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, DMK MPs Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and T R Balu at the airport.

A large number of Congress workers gave a rousing welcome to Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi at the Chennai airport on Friday.

The conference, which will be chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, will press the central government for the immediate implementation of a 33 per cent reservation of women in Parliament and state assemblies.

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on Friday inspected the Nandanam YMCA ground, the venue of the conference, in Chennai.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party’s deputy general secretary K Kanimozhi invited prominent female leaders from across India to participate in the conference.

Accepting the invitation, former president of the All India Congress Party Sonia Gandhi, her daughter Priyanka Gandhi, and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Meghbooba Mufti, women leaders of the parties included in the INDIA Alliance, are going to attend the conference.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Jaipur:

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will address a public meeting in Tonk district of Rajasthan on September 10, party leaders said on Friday.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot visited the venue of the meeting on Friday evening and said 300 kitchens would be started simultaneously in the rural areas of the state under the Indira Rasoi Yojana on that day.

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Swarnim Chaturvedi said Ms Gandhi will address the meeting on the premises of the Vivekananda Model School located in Jhilae village of the district.

The party’s Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, state unit president Govind Singh Dotasra and Ashok Gehlot will also be present on the occasion.

During his visit to the venue at Niwai, Gehlot said, “Having the programme in Niwai matters. Our Indira Rasoi Yojana has become very popular. This subsidy-based scheme has given great relief to the people in this inflation.” According to an official spokesperson, the ‘Indira Rasoi’ scheme is at present running in cities where a meal is being provided for Rs 8. He said the scheme will now be started in villages and Chief Minister Gehlot will start it from Niwai on Sunday.

A police official said on Friday that Priyanka Gandhi reached Ranthambore in Sawai Madhopur district with her family on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, the Congress’ general secretary organization K C Venugopal will hold a meeting in Jaipur on Saturday over the Rajasthan assembly elections due later this year.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)