18 February,2024 10:47 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ramesh Chennithala/ PTI
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to undermine Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru's worldview. Chennithala made these remarks during a two-day state-level training session in Lonavala, Pune, which was attended by key Congress leaders including Nana Patole, Prithviraj Chavan, and Balasaheb Thorat, PTI reported.
According to the report, Chennithala criticised Modi, claiming that if he comes to power, it will result in a crackdown on dissenters owing to his apparent disdain for democracy and the Constitution. He emphasised on the need for unity within the Congress party in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, as well as the necessity for discipline among its members.
"Narendra Modi and the BJP are working to end democracy. If Modi comes back to power, many people will have to go to jail. Because he doesn't believe in democracy or the Constitution. In this election, we face a do-or-die situation," Chennithala said, per PTI.
"Modi constantly criticises Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as he wants to end the Gandhi-Nehru ideology," the Kerala MLA added.
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Other Congress officials at the event shared similar comments, emphasising the importance of effective booth management and unity in securing victories in Maharashtra. They voiced faith in the Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi combination, claiming that they could prevent Modi from returning to power.
"We must work with the pride that we are Congress workers. The Congress should be united in the entire state. All cells and frontal organisations should be together. We don't have time to waste and must work on a war footing. The atmosphere is in favour of the Congress and MVA. The BJP is lying and cheating people. Remember, Maharashtra can stop Modi from retaining power," Nana Patole claimed.
Patole, per the PTI report, said that presently politics does not have an ideology and those who left the party shall return.
"Don't let commercial politics continue. We should not allow such people within the Congress party. People should teach such commercial politicians a lesson," he added.
Meanwhile, Balasaheb Thorat said Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is generating positive energy among the masses and that Maha Vikas Aghadi can win over 38 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.
"The Congress party has a tradition, philosophy and work to show. The Congress has sacrificed for the country. We should be proud that we belong to the Congress. Elections are going to be fought as an alliance. No matter who the candidate is, the goal is that BJP and Narendra Modi should not stay in power. It is not in the interest of the country," Thorat said.
Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has criticised Modi's economic policies, arguing that economic growth has slowed under his leadership compared to prior governments. He highlighted demonetization, GST adoption, and the COVID-19 epidemic as major contributors to economic challenges.
"But the pace of the country's economy is much slower under Modi than what it was under the UPA government of Dr Manmohan Singh. If the pace was similar now, we would have been the third largest economy by now," Chavan claimed, per PTI report.
According to the report, he added, "Demonetisation, implementation of GST, sudden lockdown, war waged against farmers and corruption have slowed down the pace of the economy. A dream is being shown that India will become a developed nation by 2047 but for that the per capita income should increase."
"A country with high per capita income is a prosperous country. For that, the per capita income should be USD 13,845. Currently, India's per capita income is USD 2800. The economy needs to grow at 10 per cent but under Modi, it is only growing at 6-6.25 per cent. He is misleading people," Chavan claimed.
Nana Patole also advocated for the passage of a law granting quotas to the Maratha population in Maharashtra, despite past judicial failures. Patole criticised the Devendra Fadnavis-led government for neglecting to adequately address the Maratha community's issues, the PTI report added.
