Aizawl: Kickstarting his party’s campaign in poll-bound Mizoram, Rahul Gandhi said in Aizawl Monday that the Congress would work to protect the age-old Mizo culture, tradition, and language as well as boost the state’s all-round development if voted to power.
Gandhi arrived at the capital Monday morning and immediately walked the Mizoram leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Chanmari to the Treasury Square in the heart of the city.
He met people from different walks of life including youth, children, and those who came in wheelchairs. Gandhi wore the local Mizo hat called Khumbeu and a hand-woven sling bag or Ipte Chei, as he walked nearly four and a half kilometres.
Addressing the people, Gandhi described Mizos as “gentle, kind and affectionate”, praising their “tlawmngaihna” or the spirit of selfless service. He added the idea behind the newly-minted Opposition bloc INDIA was to respect everyone with kindness and affection.
The leader, who is on a two-day visit to the state, also shared a personal anecdote with his audience, recalling his first visit in 1986 when he accompanied his father Rajiv Gandhi as a 16-year-old.
Switching to a more politically sharp rhetoric, Gandhi flayed the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) for failing to develop the state, for the lack of infrastructure, jobs, and the increasing drug menace.
He said in the last five years, the MNF government could not curb the state’s drug problem which affected many lives, and killed hundreds of youth. He said the MNF had also failed to tackle drug smuggling in the state.
Gandhi added that the youth turned to drugs because the MNF could not generate employment, while the Congress had a “good record for running governments”.
The leader then trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he said was more worried about Israel (in the middle of a war with Palestine’s Hamas) than Manipur, which has seen ethnic unrest since the beginning of May.
He also berated the national media’s obsession with the Middle East rather than with the restive northeastern state. He said the country’s minority were feeling uncomfortable, as were the Dalits and tribals. “Manipur is just a symptom of problems. You can see the same symptoms across India,” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader said the BJP was trying to demolish all Northeast traditions and its culture. “The Mizo people know this yet the MNF is still in alliance with BJP,” Gandhi said.
He also extolled the policies taken up in Congress-ruled states, waxing eloquent on their merits.
Karnataka had developed a social security system which was “one of the best in the world”, Gandhi said, adding that schemes like direct transfer of money, free travel for women, Rs 1,500 per month to women heads of families and financial support to farmers had been immensely beneficial there.
“Gas cylinders in BJP states are priced at Rs 1,000, we give it for Rs 500,” Gandhi said.
He spoke about Chhattisgarh where farmers “get the highest remuneration for rice” in the country where the money had transformed the state’s economy. He mentioned health insurance of over Rs 25 lakh, and the free medical treatment for critical illnesses. “The government there has identified local products and supports small businesses. We have opened 377 English-medium schools which provide education to poor children,” he added.
Gandhi criticised the BJP for “attacking small businesses”, adding: “GST is designed to destroy small and medium businesses, it’s designed to weaken farmers.”
Gandhi also said that demonetisation in 2016 was a ridiculous idea by Modi and that the economy was still feeling the pangs. “Everything is destined to help one man, Gautam Adani,” he added.
The Congress leader’s itinerary is packed Tuesday as he will meet party leaders and address the media in Aizawl. He will also visit the Lunglei town in the southern part of the state and hold a public meeting, before heading for Delhi via Agartala.
Mizoram will see a single-phase election to its 40 seats on 7 November and counting will be on 3 December. Congress released the names of 39 candidates on Monday.
Meanwhile, political parties, churches, civil society organizations, and student bodies have urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to reschedule the voting date as it falls on a Sunday, which is a sacred day for the Christian community of the state.
Christians in Mizoram account for around 87 percent, according to the 2011 census.
Edited by Tikli Basu.
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