Finance Minister should explain why unemployment on all time high in 45 years: Rahul Gandhi

Ranchi: Former AICC president and star campaigner for the Congress party Rahul Gandhi in the second election rally of the day held at Khijri Vidhan Sabha area cornered Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman over unemployment in the country which was at an all-time high in the last 45 years.

Taking swipe at the finance minister for her comments on the onion in the parliament he said that nobody has asked her what does she eat. “You eat whatever you want but since you are the finance minister of the country at least you should tell why unemployment was an all-time high in the last five years..why farmers were committing suicide and why people were not getting jobs,” he said. Mr Gandhi said that the finance minister has no time to address such issues rather she was busy stating that she does not eat onions or garlic.

Attacking the Modi government over the land acquisition bill he said that while on one hand, the BJP works for the rich on the other hand there is the Congress party which works for the poor and the farmers and now it is for the people to make a decision as to which type of government they want. He asked the people as to whether they want such a government in which land of the poor was forcibly taken away and given to the poor or such a government that brought the land acquisition bill to protect the land.

Pointing the example of Chhattisgarh he said that the Congress government of the neighbouring state took a historic decision and the land which was acquired by the Tatas on which no industry came up in five years was taken back from the company and given to the tribals and the real landowners.

Rahul Gandhi promised that if the Mahagathbandhan is voted into power than a loan wavier will be announced for the farmers, MSP on paddy will be increased to Rs 2,500 and land of the people will be protected.

Khijri is among the 17 seats where polls will be held in the third phase on December 12. This was Mr Gandhi’s second visit to the state earlier he had addressed an election rally in Simdega where polls concluded in the second phase on December 7.