lok-sabha-elections

Updated: Mar 21, 2019 00:27 IST

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday promised to make Manipur a bridge between India and Southeast Asia and restore the “special category” status to all states in the north-east, if voted to power. He also accused the Narendra Modi government of destroying 10 million jobs in 2018 alone.

Addressing an election rally in Imphal, Gandhi said he was committed to the idea of “Look East”, aimed at building economic and strategic relations with Southeast Asian nations, and to make Manipur and the north-east a “centre for job creation and manufacturing.” Launched in 1991 by the PV Narasimha Rao-led Congress government, the “Look East” initiative was renamed as “Act East” policy after the Modi government took over in 2014.

Gandhi also reiterated the party’s opposition to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that sought to grant citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. “...We’ll ensure you Citizenship (Amendment) Bill does not become a law...,” he said.

The Congress leader also promised to restore the “special category” status to the northeast, before leaving for Tripura.

In Agartala, Gandhi attacked the PM for failing to create employment and waive farmers’ loans, despite “tall promises”. “Unemployment is the biggest problem of the country now. Last year, 1 crore (10 million) people lost their jobs. Tripura too has 750,000 unemployed persons and the BJP government did nothing...,” he said at a public rally.

After the announcement of poll dates on March 10, Gandhi has campaigned in 12 states in 10 days. Congress has also released six lists of 146 candidates.

Reacting to Gandhi’s remarks, Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb said, “Nobody from the Congress... came to Tripura earlier. Now they have come to eat the fruits of success. People will never listen to Congress’ plea to reject Modi government...”