Continuing from where he left in his rally at Majitha, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a scathing attack at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-led state government and held them responsible for the menace of drugs in the state.
Rahul accused the SAD of ruining the future of the state by taking everything that belonged to the people of Punjab.
"Punjab's true essence has been killed by the Akali Dal. Guru Nanak said 'everything is yours, nothing is mine' and the Akali Dal says 'everything is mine'. They increased the cost of electricity. They are involved in every business that runs in the state. If you have go from Jalandhar to any place in Punjab, you'll have to travel by a bus of their company. They have a stake in the mining industry too. If liquor is getting sold, they have a part to play in it. So, whatever was yours, has been taken by them. They have ruined your future too. We want to change this," Rahul said.
"After Badals came to power in Punjab, they took everything and left nothing for the people of Punjab," he added.
The Congress vice-president also said that Punjab cannot progress unless the menace of drugs is eradicated from the state, a feat only Congress can achieve. He sent out a strong message to the drug peddlers in the state and said whoever is involved in the trade of drugs, would be severely punished.
"Our first and foremost step towards the progress of the state would be initiating a fight against drugs and eradicating them from the face of the state. And my message to everybody who is involved in the business of drugs is- we will enforce such laws in the state that if anybody is even minutely involved in the trade of drugs, we will take him into custody and his entire property would be given to the state government," Rahul said.
Rahul also said that Punjab needs a government, which can bring its lost glory back.
"There's a big change required in Punjab to bring its lost glory back. The government needs to change. Punjab needs a government, which believes in doing things for others; a government, which welcomes the industrialists and helps them establish their business in the state and ensures that the benefits out of these industries reach the unemployed, the poor and the youth. Only the Congress can give you this kind of a government," said Rahul.
He also took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and criticised the demonetisation of high-end currency notes. He said that the Prime Minister tries to lure people with new theories every day.
"Modi ji said that he is fighting against corruption when he introduced demonetisation. people found out ways and converted their black money to white. He came with a new theory that he was fighting against terrorism. Few days later, he quipped that the aim of demonetisation was 'cashless India'. Wherever he goes, he makes promises, and then goes. Nobody gets the benefit," Rahul said.
The Congress vice-president minced no words when it came to Arvind Kejriwal and said he was the Delhi Chief Minister was the biggest dictator as accused by one of his own party members.
Rahul said, "An MP from Kejriwal's party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), sits beside me in the Parliament. He told me in person that Kejriwal is the biggest dictator in the world. He ousted Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan from his camp and suspended MPs from his party. He wants only his rule in Delhi. And now in Punjab."
He also laid down his party's plans for the progress of the state.
"The Bhakra Nangal was constructed almost 60-70 years ago. A single person did not construct it. It was built brick by brick by the thousands of people of the state. This Bhakra Nangal manufactures one single unit of electricity in only 35 paise and has been doing so for 60 years. This is Punjab's true essence and power," Rahul said.
He added, "We want to bring that spirit of service back which can be felt in Harmandir Sahab or in every Gurudwara. We want to bring a government in Punjab which believes in this service; a government which can build a Bhakra Nangal again, a Chandigarh again, which can forgive the farmers' debts, which can provide MGNREGA, and the right to proper food."
Earlier in the day, Rahul declared that Captain Amarinder Singh would be the party's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly polls in the state.
The Congress vice-president is on a three-day visit to Punjab, where he will hold joint rallies with Singh and new addition to the party Navjot Singh Sidhu in Jalalabad and Lambi, respectively.
Besides Majitha and Bhatinda, Rahul will also campaign in Rampura Phul and Talwandi Sabo.
Punjab goes to polls on February 4 and the counting takes place on March 11.
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