Congress leader and former party president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of promoting fear and consequential hate in the country while claiming a nexus between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the national media, and two industrialists.
Addressing the gathering at the 'Mehngai par halla bol' rally in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan Gandhi, who was leading the protest against price rise and unemployment, made a string of allegations against the BJP, PM Modi, and the RSS - the ideological mentor of the saffron party.
He began his address by saying that hate and division have increased in the country since the BJP government came into power. "Hatred is a form of fear. Only those who fear are hate-filled. So when we say hatred is increasing, we can also say fear is increasing, fear of [an uncertain] future, unemployment, fear of price rise."
Gandhi, who was greeted at the venue with cheers of 'Zindabad', claimed that the fear and hate that has gripped the country is benefitting only two industrialists. "You can see for yourself, be it airports, ports, roads... cellphones, oil, everything is being monopolised by these two industrialists."
Talking about the impact of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rollout on the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, Gandhi accused the Centre of 'breaking the backbone of those earning their livelihood from this sector.
He said, "BJP made changes to the Congress’ version of the GST, imposed five new taxes, negatively impacting the small traders, small and medium enterprises, labourers, farmers. I am not feeling good to say this but today the condition is such that even if the country wants, it won't be able to give employment to its youth. Because these two corporate houses don't give employment to the people of this country. It is small and medium enterprises that give employment and Narendra Modiji has broken their backbone."
The GST was implemented in 2017. The regime brought job units and micro enterprises into the tax ambit, but the move came when the largely cash-dependent industry was already suffering due to liquidity issues due to the demonetisation.
He further took a dig at the corporate media for 'supporting' the Modi government. He said, "The media is also owned by these two industrialists... who will speak truth to power?"
In his over 20-minute-long speech, Gandhi raised various other issues including the alleged 'suppression' of the country's independent institutions such as the judiciary, election commission, and so on.
Party leaders, workers, and supporters in huge numbers thronged the venue from Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, besides other parts of the country.