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Union Minister Anurag Thakur asserted on Sunday that the Congress’ promises in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka have fallen short, much like its leader Rahul Gandhi.
Thakur highlighted instances of unfulfilled promises, such as Rahul Gandhi’s assurance before the 2018 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, where he pledged to change the chief minister if the farm loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh was not implemented within 10 days. Additionally, Gandhi promised a Rs 4,000 unemployment allowance. However, Thakur alleged that none of these electoral guarantees were realized during the Congress’s 15-month rule under Kamal Nath’s leadership from December 2018 to March 2020.
Thakur pointed out that similar guarantees have also faltered in states where the Congress is in power, including Himachal Pradesh, where they promised Rs 1500 per month to 22.50 lakh women and one lakh jobs, neither of which have been delivered even after 10 months in power.
In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress had pledged to purchase cow dung at Rs 2 per kilogram, offer milk at Rs 100 per liter, and provide 300 units of free electricity, none of which have been realized.
Thakur further criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, citing the severe air pollution in the national capital region. He mentioned that despite Kejriwal’s previous claims about stubble burning in Punjab being the cause of Delhi’s pollution, the installation of three smoke towers by the Aam Aadmi Party government had not brought any improvements, rendering Delhi a “gas chamber.”
Responding to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s accusations of using government agencies to intimidate opposition parties, Thakur emphasized that these agencies operate independently and according to the law. He pointed out the serious allegations against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in connection with the ‘Mahadev’ betting app, which is under investigation for money laundering and other irregularities.
Thakur also cited instances of corruption and irregularities within Congress-led governments, including the discovery of Rs 2.25 crore in cash and one kilogram of gold from an official working under Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Thakur alleged that irregularities occurred in the Jal Jiwan Mission under the Gehlot government in Rajasthan and noted various scams in Chhattisgarh. He emphasized that the investigation into the app scam in Chhattisgarh had been ongoing for a considerable period and was not initiated with an eye on the upcoming Assembly polls in the state.
Chhattisgarh is set to hold Assembly polls in two phases on November 7 and 17. Thakur also criticized Delhi CM Kejriwal for previously certifying the honesty of AAP leaders who are now in jail on charges of corruption.
