Congress can put India on the path to prosperity: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress party’s ideology unites people and it can put India on the path to progress and prosperity, party leader Rahul Gandhi said on Sunday.

Addressing the ‘Mehangai Par Halla Bol’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, Rahul Gandhi said that Modi government was weakening the country through hatred and botched up economic policies that have resulted in massive unemployment and inflation.

He accused the Modi government of working for the benefit of only select two big industrialists, who are "working for the prime minister 24 hours" through their media channels and other means. He alleged that the prime minister, in turn, was also working 24 hours for these two industrialists.

“This country is owned not by just two industrialists, but the country belongs to every citizen. This government’s ideology is divisive, but this country belongs to everyone, to every citizen. We believe that toils of our masses, of our farmers must not go to a handful of capitalists,” he told the gathering.

While the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government pulled 27 crore people out of poverty in 10 years, he lamented, the Narendra Modi government has pushed 23 crore people back into poverty over the last eight years.

Launching an all-out attack on the union government, the Congress leader said the government had shut all doors on the Opposition and the "only way for us is to talk directly to people and tell them the truth and hear them out".

This is why the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' is being launched in order to communicate directly with people and hear out their concerns.

"Ever since the BJP government came to power at the Centre, hatred and anger have increased in the country. There is pressure on institutions like the media, judiciary and the Election Commission with the government attacking each of them," he added.

"The spectre of inflation and unemployment is looming large, while intolerance and hatred are rising. Hatred does not benefit the country, but it makes the country weak, " he said to loud applause.

Highlighting the plight of people facing hardships due to price rise and unemployment, he pointed out that whenever the Opposition tries to raise their voice and these issues in Parliament, the government refuses to cooperate.

The country's situation is such that even if it wants, it cannot give jobs to its youth, he said.

Gandhi also alleged that the three “black farm laws” were brought in not to help farmers, but to benefit a few industrialists.

The former Congress chief said the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' is important as the party has to go directly to people and tell them the truth about the country and where the nation is headed.