TNN, Barnala :
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday termed the Gujarat model of governance as destructive, divisive in nature and prayed to God to save the country from this model.
“Hey Bhagwan desh ko is model se bachao (God save the country from this model),” Sonia Gandhi said reacting to BJP’s claims of trying to replicate what Gujarat chief minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had done in that state.
The Congress president said the BJP’s much touted Gujarat model is actually the ‘Modi model’ under which the common man is suffering in the state and prayed to God to save the country from it.
“BJP’s chief campaigner is selling Narendra Modi model in the name of Gujarat. What is happening in Gujarat under this model? Sikhs living there since past 50 years were being forced to leave the state,” Sonia said while addressing an election rally in Malwa belt of Punjab.
Taking a dig at Narendra Modi, while campaigning for Congress candidate Vijayinder Singla, Sonia Gandhi said BJP might be trying to sell the Gujarat model in India but people must know destructive and divisive this model of governance is.
“Farmers are being displaced after snatching lands from them, villages are without potable water, children up to 5 years of age are malnourished, people earning up to Rs 11 a day are not kept below poverty line (BPL) category, big chunks of lands are being provided to favoured ones for peanuts,” Sonia said.
“If this is BJP model of governance, country does not want this model of governance,” said the Congress president.
In a scathing attack on BJP and Modi, Sonia also accused them of promoting politics of hatred, fanaticism and working to usurp absolute power in one hand.
She said if BJP is being recognized for dividing the country on religion, language and casteism, the Congress on the other hand is working for the rights of farmers, poor people and ensuring communal harmony.
In her brief address of about 15 minutes, Sonia Gandhi tried to woo farmers, employees, defense personnel, dalits, ex servicemen and police personnel of Punjab.
She talked about the problems being faced by farmers in selling their produce, older, disabled people who were not getting pension, and the youth who complained about few employment opportunities in the state. Sonia also referred to the problems employees faced in getting salaries, and tried to score brownie points with the promise of one-rank-one-pension for ex servicemen and setting up of 7th pay commission for employees.
Not forgetting to take pot shots at Punjab’s SAD-BJP government, Sonia accused it of not doing anything for farmers, employees or dalits, but only working to fill its own coffers. Sonia Gandhi also slammed SAD leaders for being deeply involved in drug smuggling, mining of sand gravel and collecting goonda tax.
“Even the policemen are vulnerable to attacks at the hands of Akalis,” said Sonia. “This government headed by Badal is known only to thunder not rain or pounce. This government forgets everything after getting the chair, she added.
