Lok Sabha elections 2019-Delivery on NYAY within a year of coming to power: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi said in Jharkhand on Thursday that unlike the Modi government, which had failed to deliver on its promise to give ₹15 lakh to every citizen, his government would start dispending ₹6,000 per month to an estimated five crore poor families across the country under the Nyay scheme (Nyuntam Aay Yojna) within a year of coming to power in 2019.

“Modi promised in 2014 to give ₹15 lakh into the account of every citizen; but he doesn’t talk about it now. On the contrary, we have delivered on what we promised in Chhattisgarh, be it ₹2,500 MSP (minimum support price) for rice or loan waiver for farmers. So, in a year from when we come to power in 2019, we would start delivering ₹6,000 per month to around five crore poor families in the country, as promised under the Nyay scheme,” the Congress president said.

Rahul was addressing a rally in Simdega, seeking votes for the Congress candidate from Khunti Lok Sabha constituency, Kalicharan Munda. This was his first rally in the state since the March announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. Rahul had addressed a rally in Ranchi on March 2, his first in the state after the 2014 assembly elections.

Hitting out at critics of the scheme, Rahul said that there would be enough money to run Nyay, which would, in fact boost the Indian economy by creating demand in the market. “When we were ideating the (Nyay) scheme, questions were raised till when could we continue it. We will give keep giving this amount into the account of the beneficiary till the time the monthly income of that family reaches ₹12,000 per month,” he said.

Rahul alleged that the Modi government was spending a huge amount of money on a select group of 15-20 businessmen through loan waivers and corruption, but the Congress government would ensure that money was distributed among the poor through the scheme promised in the party manifesto.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s charges, Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo described the Nyay scheme of the Congress as “the biggest jumla” of the party. “They have been talking of Garibi Hatao (eradication of poverty) for the past 50 years and across four generations. It is the biggest jumla propped up by the Congress. Moreover, the venue chosen for the rally was in an area that has a 70% Christian population. It shows Rahul Gandhi’s and his party’s confidence in pulling crowds,” said Shahdeo.

The Khunti Lok Sabha seat is reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates, and has been a stronghold of the BJP with the outgoing MP Karia Munda representing it eight times. This time, the BJP candidate is former chief minister Arjun Munda.

Addressing the gathering, the Congress president alleged that the BJP governments were amending the Acts legislated by the Congress government in the past to protect the interests and rights of tribals and farmers in order to snatch their land and give it to select corporate companies.

“The Congress government would implement all the laws legislated for the purpose,” Rahul said, exuding confidence that the opposition Grand Alliance in the state would win all seats.