Rahul Gandhi Advocates for Constitution's Sanctity in Punjab

In Nawanshahr, Punjab, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasized the importance of protecting India's Constitution, likening its values to those of Guru Nanak and Bhagat Singh. He criticized the BJP's attacks on constitutional values and promised economic reforms and job creation if the INDIA bloc comes to power.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Thursday that the Constitution reflects the thinking of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak and freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, and claimed that it is under attack from the BJP and the RSS.

Interacting with farmers in Khatkar Kalan village in Punjab's Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district on the last day of campaigning for the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections, he asked people to oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi ''fatafat fatafat'' (quickly).

Gandhi was accompanied by the Congress' Anandpur Sahib candidate Vijay Inder Singla.

Khatkar Kalan is the ancestral village of Bhagat Singh.

Gandhi said he was happy to visit the village of the legendary Bhagat Singh.

''For the first time in independent India, the Constitution is being attacked,'' he said.

''Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and (other) BJP leaders have clearly said that if they win the elections, they will scrap and tear up Ambedkar's Constitution and throw it away,'' the Congress leader claimed.

Holding a copy of the Constitution, Gandhi said it is not just a book. The Constitution reflects the thinking of Guru Nanak and other greats.

''When the BJP and RSS people attack it, they attack the country's history and its heart. The most important thing in this election is the mission to protect Ambedkar's Constitution,'' he said.

''The BJP is openly attacking the Constitution,'' he charged.

Responding to an elderly woman who spoke about ''meagre'' MGNREGA wages, Gandhi said if the opposition INDIA bloc comes to power, it will raise the daily wage from Rs 250 to Rs 400.

He also said that honorariums of anganwadi and ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers will be doubled after June 4.

Votes for all seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections will be counted on June 4.

Gandhi alleged the Modi government is working for only 22 billionaires.

He also spoke about the Congress' proposed Mahalaxmi Yojana under which the party has promised to provide Rs 1 lakh every year to women from poor families.

They will continue to receive this money till they come out of poverty, he said.

He also said that 30 lakh vacancies in the central government will be filled up by giving jobs to youths.

Gandhi also targeted the Modi government over the Agniveer scheme and said it is an insult to the Army.

He said if the INDIA bloc comes to power, it will throw the Agniveer scheme in the dustbin.

Having two types of jawans in the Army is unacceptable. One will get pension, full training and martyr status while the Agniveer will neither get pension nor martyr status, he said.

The government rolled out the Agnipath recruitment scheme in June 2022 for short-term induction of personnel with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three armed services.

It provides for recruiting youngsters between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 for four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.

Gandhi further said that if the INDIA bloc comes to power, it will empower the youth, farmers, labourers and traders.

''Our thinking is to jump-start the economy like you put petrol in a vehicle and run the engine,'' he said.

Modi has taken money out of people's pockets, the Congress leader said, referring to demonetisation and imposition of ''wrong'' Goods and Services Tax (GST).

''We are putting money in your pockets. We will give it to farmers, labourers, small traders, youths and women. After this, when we start the engine, the economy will start quickly... khata khat, khata khat.

''But before that, you must oust Modi 'fatafat fatafat','' he said.

''Punjab has played a role in running the country, Punjab shows the way to the country and Punjab meets the food needs of the country,'' Gandhi said.