slumdwellers

Congress president Rahul Gandhi

rehabilitation scheme

Rahul Gandhi attacked PM Modi over Rafale deal and farmers’ issues (PHOTO BY SATISH MALAVADE)

In first poll rally, Cong chief says his party would implement scheme within 10 days.With a view to woowho constitute more than 60 per cent of voters in Mumbai,has promised 500 sq feet houses for them in the. He told Mumbaikars that such a scheme would be implemented within 10 days of the Congress coming to power.“I am saying 10 days, but I assure you it will be done in two days,” said Gandhi at a rally in MMRDA grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex to kickstart his party’s election campaign on Friday.Sinking their differences, various factions of Mumbai Congress united and maintained solidarity for the show. As per police estimates, the rally was attended by more than 22,000 people. Some Congress workers could not get into the grounds and were stranded on the roadside.Gandhi said that as per the present norms, slumdwellers get 250 sq feet of flat in the rehabilitation scheme (in reality a slum dweller gets 269 sq feet flat, while BJP government has promised 305 sq feet). The announcement was met with a huge applause from the audience.Soon after Gandhi’s speech, state Congress chief Ashok Chavan said such a scheme would also be applicable to residents living in tenanted properties.Describing Mumbai as the soul of India, Gandhi said PM Narendra Modi speaks of developing 100 smart cities, but Mumbai was the smart city and that its strength and potential needs to be recognised. He said Mumbai shows direction to the country. “It is the city of peace and brotherhood where people from all over the country converge.”Gandhi also welcomed the homecoming of Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan, where he was captured.He attacked Modi on the issue of Rafale aircraft deal and said that the PM cannot confront him on the issue.Gandhi said he challenged Modi for an open debate on corruption. “But the chowkidar is not only chor, but also darpok. He avoids eye contact whenever there is a debate or discussion on Rafale,” the Congress president said. He claimed that the BJP was ‘assaulting’ the Constitution of India. “The Constitution is your voice and does not belong to one individual or organisation. What was the need to remove the CBI director at midnight? Our colleague Mallikarjun Kharge knows all this and would tell us about it. The Planning Commission which showed direction to the country was wound up. For the first time, RBI governor had to resign. In chowkidar’s India, judges hold press conferences seeking justice from the people of the country,” he said.The Congress leader repeated his allegation that the BJP government benefited industrialist Anil Ambani to the tune of of Rs 35,000 crore and that Rs 3.5 lakh crore debts of 15 industrialists were waived in the last five years. But when it comes to farmers, he said, a paltry sum of Rs 3.5 per day was promised to them under the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.Gandhi said the Gabbar Singh Tax (he meant Goods and Services Tax) has destroyed the small traders and small and medium businesses, and said even traders in Mumbai would vouch for it. “If you come across any small or medium business owners or traders who say they have benefited from the GST regime, tell me, I would like to meet them,” he said.Referring to the proposed Mahagatbandhan, Gandhi said, “Whoever wants to come along, Congress’s doors are open.”Gandhi also had a meeting in Dhule where a large number of workers from the district and tribal-dominated areas of Nandurbar gathered. He also visited the family of Gurudas Kamat, the Congress leader who passed away in August last year.