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Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of seeking to destroy the Constitution which is the "soul of the country" and claimed that the MVA government in Maharashtra was "toppled to grab land."
Addressing election rallies in Jharkhand, he alleged that BJP works for a few indusralists and that the state's steel plant may also be handed over to them. He displayed a copy of the Constitution and said it is the soul of the country. "The Constitution is the soul of the country. PM says that Rahul Gandhi is wandering with a red-coloured Constitution. See, the colour doesn't matter, what matters is what's written in it. Narendra Modi says the book (carried by Rahul Gandhi) is empty, look at this. The Constitution is the nation's spirit," he added. The BJP has accused the Congress leader of displaying a copy of the Constitution with blank pages during campaign in Maharashtra. Gandhi further said that there is an "ideological battle" between INDIA bloc and BJP-RSS. "This is an ideological battle; on one side is the Congress and INDIA bloc and on the other side is BJP and RSS. We say that the country should run according to the Constitution, we say that the Constitution must be strengthened. They want to finish the Constitution, tear it apart," Gandhi said. He alleged that Modi government waived off Rs 16 lakh crore of rich businessmen but was not keen on waiving off loans of farmers. The Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha alleged that the BJP had reduced reservations while his party was committed to increase the same. "In Jharkhand, BJP had reduced the reservation for backward classes. On the one hand Narendra Modi gives a speech saying- I belong to the backward class. On the other hand, they reduce the reservation for backward classes, snatch away your land and make you unemployed through demonetisation. That's why we have taken a decision in Jharkhand- ST reservation will be 28 per cent, we will make 12 per cent reservations for SCs and we will make 27 per cent reservation for OBCs," he said. Voting for the first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections concluded with voting taking place in 43 out of the state's 81 elected seats. Elections on the remaining 38 seats will be conducted on November 20. The senior Congress leader reaffirmed his commitment to get the caste census done in the country, saying it was a revolutionary step and would prove to be the solution to discrimination prevailing in the country. He pointed out there were about 15 percent Dalits, 8 percent Adivasis, about 50 percent OBCs and 15 percent minorities, which roughly adds up to 90 percent. He said share of this 90 percent population in the country's decision-making process or control over resources was negligible and this needs to change. Gandhi said urged people to elect JMM-led alliance to power, saying women will be provided Rs 2500 every month and gas cylinders will be provided for Rs 450 each. He said MSP for the paddy will be increased to Rs 3,200 per quintal from Rs 2,400 per quintal being provided now. Every family in the state will be provided health insurance cover to the tune of Rs 15 lakhs. He said the Congress government will provide employment to 10 lakh youth in the state in the next five years. He said an industrial park measuring 500 acres each, will be opened up in all the districts. (ANI)
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