Congress will uproot BJD-BJP combine in Odisha: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress MP reiterated that “while the INDI Alliance wants to save the Constitution of India at any cost, the BJP and RSS want to destroy Ambedkar’s Constitution”

Published on: May 30, 2024, 17:27:22 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Rahul Gandhi, implying that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is in cahoots with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Thursday claimed that the Congress will uproot the BJD-BJP partnership in Odisha as it did in Telangana, “where the Bharat Rashtra Samithi was working for the BJP”.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during an election rally. (AFP Photo)

Addressing a public meeting in Balasore Lok Sabha constituency on the last day of campaigning, Gandhi accused the BJP of lodging 24 cases against him, getting him sentenced to jail in a defamation case, taking away his Lok Sabha membership, government quarter and getting him interrogated by ED for 50 hours.

“But why have no cases been filed against (CM) Naveen Patnaik, who is claiming to be fighting the BJP? There has been no interrogation, no raids because Naveen Patnaik works for the BJP. These two (BJD and BJP) are one, and the aim of the partnership is to steal the wealth of the people of Odisha, the mines and make billions from it,” Gandhi alleged.

In Telangana, Gandhi said, there was a partnership between the BRS and BJP.

“Its chief minister used to work for the BJP. There was pressure, there was fear, and the entire work was done by the chief minister for the BJP. The Congress party stood up and fought the BJP and BRS, breaking the backbone of both in Telangana. Today, there is no government of billionaires in Telangana. Today, there is a government of people in Telangana. Crores of rupees are given to the poor and women travel in the bus for free. The government is working for the people, listening to the voice of the people, that is what we are going to do in Odisha. We don’t want a government of billionaires, we want a government of the people of Odisha and our goal is to destroy the partnership of Naveen babu and Narendra Modi,” the Wayanad MP said.

Reiterating his claims that the BJP wants to abolish the Constitution, Gandhi said that “while the INDI Alliance wants to save the Constitution of India at any cost, the BJP and RSS want to destroy Ambedkar’s Constitution”.

“I want to tell them that no power can destroy the Indian Constitution. You (BJP) can use all forces, but can’t touch the Constitution,” he said.

Gandhi also said that once elected to power, the INDI Alliance government will throw the Agniveer defence scheme into the dustbin. “We don’t need two types of martyrs. Each jawan should get pension, canteen facility, proper training, and martyr status in defence service,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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