ADVERTISEMENT

No-Confidence Motion: Rahul Gandhi Attacks Modi On GST, Jobs, Loan Waivers And Defence Deals

Congress President Rahul Gandhi takes on PM Modi in the no-confidence motion.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi during a debate on no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament. (Source: PTI)
Congress President Rahul Gandhi during a debate on no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament. (Source: PTI)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Modi government in the no-confidence motion today, saying that it has unleashed a new political weapon called “jumla strike” or empty promises.

Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s renegotiation of the Rafale fighter jet deal with France. “The government took the Rafale contract away from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and gave it to a business house that’s never built a plane,” he said.

He also pointed out that the Goods and Services Tax was originally the Congress Party’s idea.

Catch live updates from the Lok Sabha debate here.

Here are some of the highlights from Gandhi’s speech:

Jobs, Demonetisation, And GST

  • Andhra Pradesh has been a victim of a 21st century political weapon called the ‘jumla strike’.
  • BJP’s fake promises: Rs 15 lakh in each bank account, two crore jobs a year, of which only four lakh youth got new jobs in the financial year 2016.
  • Jobs will come from small and medium enterprises, setting up of shops, construction sector. Instead, the Modi government chose to enforce the note ban.
  • Farmers, labour, and poor all operate in cash; they were hurt the by demonetisation.
  • Narendra Modi, as the then Gujarat chief minister, opposed what was a single-tax GST; he instead enacted a complex GST as the Prime Minister.

Debt Waivers, Farmers

  • Government chose to write-off corporate bad loans and reject farm loan waivers.
  • Government has been ignoring farmers as they do not wear a ‘suit’ or a ‘boot’.
  • Newest ‘jumla strike’ was of minimum support prices announcement.

Rafale Deal

  • PM renegotiated Rafale deal to Rs 1,600 crore per aircraft from Rs 520 crore as struck by the UPA government.
  • French President told me personally that there’s no confidentiality pact with India on Rafale deal.
  • French President made it clear that details of the Rafale deal could be disclosed in India.
  • Defence Minister has clearly spoken an “untruth”.

Crony Capitalism Charge

The PM doesn’t listen to small businesses. The powers that help Modi, the 10-15 big businessmen, he only works for them. There’s no place in his heart for the common people of India.
Rahul Gandhi, President, Congress

Power Jibe

  • Prime Minister Modi and the BJP President Amit Shah can’t afford to lose power.
  • The country is convulsed by anger that’s emanating from BJP’s fear of losing power.
  • I have now understood the meaning of being a Congress party member and an Indian due to the BJP and the RSS.
  • BJP hates me, calls me 'Pappu', but I don’t hate the BJP the least bit.
  • PM has not said a word on assaults on dalits, tribals, minorities and women.
  • It is the Prime Minister's responsibility to speak his mind when countrymen are being attacked

Gandhi’s Modi Hug

Rahul Gandhi walked over to Prime Minister Modi and hugged him after his speech.