Modi’s goal is to destroy Constitution: Rahul

Vijayawada, March 31 (IANS) Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ultimate goal is to destroy the Constitution of India, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday asserted that his party would never allow this.

Addressing two election rallies in Andhra Pradesh, he targeted Modi over the attacks on Dalits, tribals and minorities.

"They are beaten and killed on streets. They are threatened every single day. The BJP and the RSS are attacking the Indian Constitution," Gandhi told a rally in Kalyanadurg in Anantapur district in the evening.

Gandhi, who earlier kicked-off the party's election campaign in Vijayawada, said "divide India and steal from India" is the politics of Modi.

"People are murdered and women are raped. There is atmosphere of fear. This is the politics of Narendra Modi. Divide India and steal from India," he said at a rally.

"Everybody knows the ultimate goal of Modi is the destruction of the Constitution of India. We are never going to allow that. Dalits, minorities, tribals, farmers, weaker sections, everybody has a right to live in this country in peace. This country is not the personal property of one man or one organization," Gandhi added.

The Congress President promised that if voted to power in Andhra Pradesh, the Congress would waive off farm loans within two days as it did recently after coming to power in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

He also said if voted to power at the Centre, according special category status to Andhra Pradesh would be one of the first things it would do.

Gandhi, whose party is going alone in next month's Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, avoided a direct attack on the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) at Vijayawada but at the second rally, did not pull his punches.

He said neither of the state's two parties put pressure on Modi. "The TDP was in alliance with Mr Modi. It should have put pressure and forced him to give special status. I understand Mr Jagan Reddy has many cases on him. I understand the Prime Minister can put lot of pressure on him," he said.

Alleging that Modi declared war on poor and weak, he said the Congress would declare war on poverty. "The Congress will carry out surgical strike on poverty. We will give 'Nyay' to people of India. This is our non-violent weapon against poverty," he said, referring to the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) scheme promised in the Congress manifesto.

Gandhi said 20 per cent of the poorest people, earning less than Rs 12,000 a month will be identified and given Rs 72,000 directly in their bank account every year, adding five crore families or 25 crore people will benefit from this scheme.

"Every family will get Rs 3.60 lakh in five years. I am not Modi. I do not lie. He said he will give Rs 15 lakh. It was a lie."

Terming unemployment the biggest promised, he promised another "revolutionary" scheme to young men and women to start business without permissions from any government department for three years.

Alleging that Modi handed over keys of Indian banking systems to the likes of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, he said the Congress would give keys to youngsters who want to create jobs.

The Congress leader said the party came to power, it would spend 6 per cent of GDP on education and ensure all people have access to top quality education.