Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the name Modi symbolises a nexus between India’s biggest crony capitalists and the prime minister. Speaking at the second day of the party’s 84th plenary session, Gandhi said, “You can steal Rs 33,000 crore from the banks and the Bharatiya Janata Party government will protect you.” He also claimed that the finance minister goes silent because he and his daughter work for crony capitalists.

Gandhi said the corrupt and the powerful control the conversation in our country now. “I don’t say it with happiness but the last government we formed did not stand up to the expectations of the people.”

The Congress president attacked the government for failing to generate employment . “Government always says that India is the fastest growing economy in the world,” said Gandhi. “But today millions of youth face unemployment. People have no jobs, farmers are committing suicide, but Modiji says “chalo yoga karte hain”. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi only diverts attention and never addresses the country’s problems. “When it is important for the prime minister to speak, he goes silent,” said Gandhi.

The party president said the BJP has spread fear among the people. “People from press are scared, for first time we saw four Supreme Court judges running to public for justice. They tell Muslims of India who never went to Pakistan and supported this great nation that you don’t belong here.” He said the Bharatiya Janata Party also asks the Tamils to change their beautiful language while they tell the people of North East that they don’t like what they eat. “They told Gauri Lankesh and Kalburgi, question us and you will die. They tell our honest businessman to shut up and allow corrupt officers to extort their hard earned money. They tell our farmers to work for nothing.”

Gandhi said the Congress can never be like the BJP. “The people of India will accept a man accused of murder as the president of the BJP, but they will never ever accept the same in the Congress because they hold the party in highest regard,” he claimed. He said the difference between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Congress was that his party respects the country’s institutions whereas the RSS wants the judiciary, the Parliament and the police to function under it. “They only want one institution, that is RSS,” said Gandhi.

Invoking the Mahabharata, Gandhi said the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were like Kauravas who are designed to fight for power while the Congress was the Pandavas who fight for the truth. “Will India live in lie or have the courage to face the truth?” he asked.

He, however, added that the Congress needs to change as well. “There is a wall between our leaders and workers,” said Gandhi. “My first task will be to break that wall. I will consult senior leaders to destroy that wall with love.” He said the Congress will take the country forward, “but we are humans, we make mistakes. Modiji thinks he is not human but an incarnation of God.” He added that the Congress will now work with discipline. “The Congress will show how they win an election,” said Gandhi as he concluded his speech.

I don't say it with happiness but the last govt we formed did not stand up to the expectations of the people. The people of the country were let down by us: Congress President Rahul Gandhi at #CongressPlenarySession in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/QRmsK2iDmI — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2018