Lok Sabha Poll Campaign: Rahul criticises PM on Electoral bond issue

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, accusing him of attempting to defend what he called the largest corruption scandal. Speaking at a public event in Kozhikode, Rahul Gandhi referenced Modi’s recent interview with ANI, where he claimed the BJP had amassed thousands of crores of rupees through the electoral bond scheme, which Gandhi labeled as extortion from Indian businessmen.

In the ANI interview, PM Modi defended the electoral bond scheme, stating its aim was to curb black money in elections and accusing the opposition of making baseless allegations. He warned of future regrets if there was an honest reflection on the issue. However, the Supreme Court had declared the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional in February of the same year.

Rahul Gandhi also accused PM Modi of attempting to divert attention from real issues by engaging in symbolic acts such as performing rituals underwater, promising to bring the Olympics to India, or proposing lunar missions. He alleged that Modi neglects pressing issues like unemployment and inflation while protecting the interests of the wealthy and forgiving their debts.

Furthermore, Gandhi claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP aim to undermine and alter India’s Constitution, contrasting it with the efforts of the Congress party and the INDIA alliance to preserve it.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi denounced the Agnipath scheme, labeling it as an insult to the Indian Army. He vowed to abolish the scheme if the INDIA bloc came to power after the Lok Sabha polls. The Agnipath Yojana recruits Indian youth for service in the Armed Forces, with selected individuals termed Agniveers. It recruits youths between the ages of 17-and-a-half and 21 for a four-year term, with a provision to retain 25% of them for an additional 15 years.