New Delhi, Oct 18 (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP government in Uttarakhand on Sunday, alleging that investments exist only on paper, jobs exist only in slogans and the state’s youngsters get nothing but paper leaks. He shared a media report, which claimed that public sector undertakings (PSUs), fertiliser shops and flour mills were counted as Uttarakhand’s “investors” after a global summit.
In a post on X in Hindi, Gandhi said, “A sham by the (Pushkar) Dhami government in the name of investment in Uttarakhand — yet another example of the BJP’s ‘double-engine’ model.” The Global Investors Summit was hyped extensively — 1,779 MoUs, worth Rs 3.56 lakh crore, and nearly Rs 100 crore of public money were spent on roadshows, he said.
Subsequently, the government claimed that Rs 1 lakh crore were “realised on the ground”, Gandhi said.
“Newslaundry investigated the source of these investments: Flour mills, seed-and-fertiliser shops and small clinics were counted as ‘investors’ — some of whom were not even aware of it. Rs 35,279 crore — that is, 35 per cent of the total — comes from state-owned power companies,” he said, citing the report.
A school, run through CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds and donations, was categorised as an “investor” contributing Rs 24.49 crore, the Congress leader said.
One “investor,” credited with Rs 1,200 crore, has had zero earnings for four years and lists no employees in its records, he said.
“Roadshows in Dubai and London were claimed to have generated Rs 27,975 crore in investments; yet, not a single company from either city appears on the list of investors who have actually ‘invested on the ground’,” Gandhi said.
Furthermore, just seven days before the summit — on December 1, 2023 — the very definition of “investment” was diluted, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said and added that this is a classic case of: change the rules first, then present the figures. “The chief minister must make the full list of these 3,300 ‘investors’ public. Investments exist only on paper, jobs exist only in slogans. And for the youngsters of Uttarakhand? Nothing but paper leaks,” Gandhi said, sharing a link to the media report. Uttarakhand goes to polls early next year.
Modi, Shah and CEC Kumar will pay price for ‘vote chori’: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and CEC Gyanesh Kumar will face justice and pay the price for ‘vote chori’.
Gandhi joined the Congress’s ‘Goy Rakhon Yatra’ in Margao, walking two kilometres with workers and leaders. “The entire country knows that CEC Gyanesh Kumar implements ‘vote chori’ and Amit Shah and PM Modi back him,” he said while addressing a public meeting here. He said the Congress is a protector of the Constitution, adding that Modi, Shah and Gyanesh Kumar know they can’t escape from us.
“PM Modi, Amit Shah and CEC Gyanesh Kumar will face justice and pay the price for what they have done,” he added.
Gandhi said India used to have a world-class education system earlier, but now pellet guns are being used against student protesters.
