Rahul Gandhi addrssing a press conference in Margao on Friday
Gomantak Times
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that job of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to distract people, take them away from the real issues.
"Everybody has a particular role. I see my role as ensuring that Goa gets a government that represents its voice. Prime Minister also has a role. He cannot say he has given jobs, so, he has to distract you. His role is to distract. His role is to take you away from your issues," Rahul Gandhi commented at a press conference in Margao when he was asked PM Modi's comments on Jawaharlal Nehru in a rally at Mapusa on Thursday.
"Freedom Fighters have commented on this issue. Academics have commented on this issue. The sad fact is that the Prime Minister does not understand history. He does not understand what was going on post world War II," he said.
The main issue before Goa are unemployment and the environment but there is no word on it in BJP's manifesto, he said.
Rahul Gandhi stressed that Congress will not allow it to become a coal hub. "We will not allow Goa to become a coal hub. This is not in the interest of the people of Goa. This doesn't serve the purpose of the people of Goa. If any such projects are decided by the central government, we will resist the idea of such projects like the farm laws were resisted," he said.
He said BJP stole people's mandate in the 2017 Assembly elections in the state. "BJP stole the mandate from the people of Goa in the last election. It was not Goa's original mandate. BJP indulged in corruption and bought the MLA to steal the mandate of the people. They have done no development work in Goa in the five years and now they say, nothing was done before 2012," he said.
On being asked about Congress's plan to start mining in Goa, Rahul Gandhi said Congress will restart sustainable mining. "We will restart it in a sustainable manageable and legal way and we will do it as soon as we come to power," he said.
He further claimed that Congress has given tickets to fresh faces in this election. "We truly accepted the fact that Goans don't want defectors. We accepted it and did not give a ticket to even one defector. We have given tickets young fresh faces because we know we have to change the politics oF Goa," Gandhi said, adding that Congress will win a majority of seats in Goa elections and there won't be any need for post-poll alliances.