AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday accused the BJP of investing vast resources on a campaign targeting her brother, Rahul Gandhi, to malign his image, but Wayanad ignored it and threw its weight behind him.
Rahul, who is also the leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, did not back down even under such intense campaign over the past 10 years, Vadra said, addressing campaign rallies in Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district and at Ernad, Wandoor and Nilambur in Malappuram district. The four constituencies are part of Wayanad LS constituency she is contesting from for the November 13 polls as the UDF candidate.
She thanked the Wayanad voters for standing by her brother and voting him twice, demonstrating a bond of love and trust towards him. “You recognised this man and his fight much before others saw it…people of Wayanad made a bond of love with him and he is grateful for that…” The people of Wayanad always held a special place in his heart and he was sad when he had to give up the LS membership of the constituency, she said.
The UDF candidate accused the NDA regime of neglecting the rehabilitation work in the landslide hit places in Wayanad district. The Centre has not released compensation for victims of landslides despite Prime Minister Modi visiting the place and promising help.
The BJP, Vadra suggested, was taking politics to a new low. “They have forgotten the essence of our nation. They are working to destroy democracy, to spread anger, hatred and divisiveness.” The AICC leader accused the BJP of pursuing political power to remain in power regardless of the means.
The Modi government’s policies, including demonetisation, favoured five to six business friends of his, but not the common man. “The Modi government has displayed complete disrespect for the people of India. If you lose respect for the people, you lose respect for the country. The politics prevalent in the country today, where only power matters and the people do not matter, needs to be changed.”
Though the Congress was not in power either at the Centre or in Kerala, she would raise the problems of Wayanad in the Lok Sabha, promising them that she would not disappoint them. She also visited the Seethi Haji Memorial Football Stadium in Edvanna, Malappuram, where she interacted with young football players.
