Tumakuru: All India Congress Committee Former President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday October 8 clarified the Chief Minister candidate in the party in the State.
Speaking to mediapersons in Turuvekere, Rahul Gandhi flanked by KPCC President D. K. Shivakumar and Opposition Leader Siddaramaiah said ”the decision on the Chief Minister will be taken only after the elections in the State. However, there is no dearth of leaders in the party, who are intelligent,” said Rahul.
Rahul’s clarification on the Chief Minister candidate especially in the State assumes significance with both former Chief Minister and sitting Opposition Party Leader Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D. K. Shivakumar eyeing the top post. With the State going to general elections in April – May 2023, both leaders are playing cards close to their chests only to outsmart each other. There have been several occasions when the supporters of both leaders raised slogans in favour of their respective leaders as the ‘Next CM’.
He further said, “Uniting India is the main objective of Bharat Jodo Yatra and the 2024 election is not our goal. Uniting an India that is psychologically divided by violence and hate. Through economic inequality, few become rich in the country, while the majority become poor. Small and medium enterprises are collapsing, against the wealth of the country accumulating in the hands of a few entrepreneurs, he noted.
Rahul Gandhi replied to one of the media’s questions and said that the life of the common man has become difficult due to the rise in prices, and the main purpose of this yatra is to raise his voice against the serious problems of the common man.
When asked about the ban on PFI and the BJP’s allegation that Congress encouraged PFI, he said, “We will oppose anyone who creates hatred and unrest in the country, irrespective of their community.”
Responding to AICC President’s election he said, “The election is going on in our party and I will not talk much about it. “There are two contenders for this position, and both capable and different as leaders. He clarified that they do not work under anyone’s control. He said, ‘Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel and others who fought against the British and were imprisoned were Congressmen. The RSS were with the British. Savarkar was receiving financial assistance from the British. Congress brought freedom, Democracy, Constitution and the green revolution to this country. But BJP is now creating hatred and dividing the country. I am not doing this journey alone. Millions of people in the country are doing this yatra. People are tired of BJP’s hate politics, price hikes, unemployment, and economic inequality. That’s why people are conducting yatra,” he said.
When asked why Congress is opposing NEP, he said, “It is a threat to the value and history of our country and it is an attempt to give power and education sector to one class. Therefore, the Congress opposes this education policy,” he said. When Congress leaders are out on bail but when asked how they are accusing the Government of 40 per cent commission, he said, ‘BJP and RSS are using the country’s constitutional institutions for political gain. These institutions are being misused to target political opponents. Elected governments are being demolished by using these,” he said.
