BHOA (PATHANKOT), February 5: (Harbans Singh)
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and the AICC General Secretary in charge for Punjab, Bhupesh Bhagel today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was proving to be fatally dangerous for the country as he had proved to be the weakest and most cowardly Prime Minister of the country. “The sooner he goes, the better it will be for the country”, he remarked.
Addressing a largely attended public meeting here today as part of the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ here today, Bhhagel noted that Modi was so easily being intimidated and arm twisted
by both the United States and China. He suggested that the two countries had found some weak point of Modi which they were now exploiting.
Asserting that Modi was a cowardly Prime Minister, he pointed out how the US President Donald Trump was dictating terms and conditions on him. He referred to the recent trade deal between India and the United States, saying it was not at all on equal terms. He said, while the US will impose 18 percent tariff on Indian goods, India will be charging no tariff as Modi had agreed to ‘Zero Tariff’ on US imports. He said this was unprecedented that any country had agreed to ‘Zero Tariffs’ to the US. He said, even a country like Pakistan was charging eleven percent tariff on the US, while Modi had completely surrendered.
Referring to the Modi government’s decision to change MGNREGA, he expressed confidence that the way Modi was forced to withdraw three farm laws, the same way he will be forced to restore MGNREGA in its original form.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that Modi was hostile towards the MGNREGA from the day one. He said, he had gradually weakened the law which guaranteed 100 days work in a year to the rural poor.
Taking a dig at the government’s claims that now it will be providing 125 days a year, he said, when they could not provide 100 days, how would they be able to provide 125 days. He said, the average number of work days provided in a year under Modi was 48 only. He said, in Ludhiana out of 1.21 lakh families registered for work, only 12 families bad got 100 days work.
The PCC president also criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab saying it had also failed the MGNREGA workers as it had stopped providing work much before the new law was brought in.
He asserted that the Congress will fight right till the timeMGNREGA is not restored.
Calling for unity and harmony, he warned against the BJP’s tactics of dividing people. He referred to Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Dera Ballan and cautioned people against the BJP’s designs which is trying to divide people in the name of religion and caste.
Speaking on the occasion, Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa said that MGNREGA is not a charity scheme but a lifeline for rural Punjab and a legal right of the poor. “BJP has destroyed every right given to poor and common citizen of this country by the Congress”, he added.
While attacking AAP government, he said the AAP has reduced goverance to a publicity tool. “Big promises on paper but poor implementation, and zero accountability on the ground”, remarked.
When rural workers struggle for employment and timely payments, the government is busy with advertisements and optics, he noted while adding, Punjabi’s need work, dignity, and transparency—not hollow slogans.
All the speakers congratulated former Bhoa MLA Joginder Pal for holding an impressive show at a very short notice.
AICC General Secretary and Gurdaspur MP and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also addressed the rally.
Among those present included Ms Aruna Chaudhary, Joginder Pal, Amit Vij, Barindermeet Singh Phara and others.
