Vote For Congress To Uphold Peace In Punjab, Identify ‘Forces’ Behind BJP, AAP: Rahul Gandhi

“This is a border state, a sensitive state. Congress understands Punjab.

It can maintain peace… All these people who are making promises, they will ruin Punjab if you give them a chance.

Punjab will be on fire. We do not divide. We take everyone together. Thousands of our workers laid down their lives.

We understand violence. We understand if peace is gone from Punjab, then nothing will be left. We will lay down our lives but would not let the state be divested of peace,” he said.

Addressing a rally in party MLA Hardial Singh Kamboj’s constituency of Rajpura in Patiala district, Gandhi said Punjab was not a “chemistry lab” that could be handed over to the BJP or the AAP for an experiment.

“The issue of utmost importance for Punjab is to maintain peace.

Congress understands that… Congress is going to win. I am telling the party workers to fight.

Only five days are left. Bring a Congress government in the state by getting 70 to 80 seats,” he said.

Gandhi also asked voters to identify the forces behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former chief minister Amarinder Singh.

“Do not go by Narendra Modi’s face. Just ask a question as to what is the hidden power behind this man. Also, observe his actions.

For instance, when Narendra Modi announced demonetisation, did he have the poor behind him? No. The poor man suffered.

Then Modi ji brought three farm laws… he has forces behind him. You get taken away that Modi ji wears good clothes, he speaks well.

But just see the forces behind him. Farmers were out on the roads for a year. They would not have if they were the force behind Modi ji.

So what was the power? Three-four millionaires of India. They say the warehouses of farmers have a lot of money and they need that money. They are the powers behind Modi.”

“Now, look at Kejriwal. If you can understand the force behind Kejriwal then you will understand Punjab’s politics.

I have 20 cases against me including defamation, criminal and civil cases. Have I apologised? Why did Kejriwal seek forgiveness from Bikram Majithia? What was the need? The leaders of Congress did not seek forgiveness,” he said.

He added, “Have you heard about the Gujarat model? Now there is the Delhi model. Modi used to ask for one chance.

Now, Kejriwal says the same thing. Remember, it is the same force behind them.”

Coming down heavily on Amarinder, Gandhi said, “Have I made a mistake by making Charanjit Channi the CM? Have I made a mistake of naming him who has come from a poor background? Because we want a CM who has the poor as a force behind him and not a CM who has the force of a millionaire behind him.

We want our CM to have farmers, poor and common man’s force behind him.”

He also recalled how he had cautioned governments about Covid, “I said outside the Parliament that India will face a tragedy.

Lakhs are going to die. I told the Delhi government many times that we will suffer. We should be ready with ventilators and oxygen cylinders.

But they mocked me. When lakhs were facing death, the Prime Minister said thaali bajao. After that he said mobile ki light chamkao…

AAP says they opened mohalla clinics. The first clinic was opened by Sheila Dikshit. Where did these mohalla clinics go when we saw people outside on roads dying due to shortage of oxygen?”

Interestingly, as Punjab chief minister at the time, Amarinder Singh was credited with handling the pandemic better than many other states.

Gandhi said, “In Punjab, we fought against Covid. We did not make false promises.”

He also reminded the voters of demonetisation. “During demonetisation, I was mocked. What happened? Have you forgotten? All poor people stood in the queue, but millionaires did not.”