Dhanbad, Jharkhand, November 9: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a strong criticism of the BJP-led Central government, accusing it of creating a tax structure that disproportionately impacts the poor. Speaking at a rally in Dhanbad, Gandhi claimed that the Indian tax system is designed to “loot the poor,” with policies favoring wealthy industrialists over ordinary citizens.
“The Indian tax system today is designed to take from the poor and give to the rich,” said Gandhi, referencing billionaire Gautam Adani. He alleged that land in Dharavi, valued at Rs 1 lakh crore, is being handed over to Adani, highlighting a stark contrast in tax burdens.
Gandhi also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, suggesting that while Modi “travels in seaplanes and makes grand speeches,” ordinary people, especially women, are hit hardest by rising prices. “Our mothers and sisters bear the brunt of GST on everyday items,” he said, adding that the tax system serves as a means to “extract money from the poor.”
The Congress leader addressed issues faced by tribal communities, noting that the government refers to them as “forest dwellers” instead of “tribals,” diminishing their ancestral rights to land and resources. He emphasized the Congress’s stance that tribal communities should have the first rights to forest, water, and land resources, rather than watching them slip away.
Gandhi further criticized Modi for not engaging with marginalized communities, alleging he “attends the weddings of industrialists’ families” but “never reaches out to Dalits or tribals.” He promised that if elected, the Congress would prioritize a caste census and remove the 50 percent cap on reservations to ensure fair representation in government jobs and institutions. In Jharkhand, he vowed to allocate 28% reservation to tribals, 12% to Dalits, and 27% to backward classes.
Reiterating the INDIA bloc’s seven guarantees for Jharkhand, Gandhi pledged measures to support local communities, including food security with subsidized gas cylinders at Rs 450 and 7 kg of ration per person, a women’s honorarium of Rs 2,500, and 10 lakh job opportunities. Additional commitments included increased MSPs for crops, healthcare funding, and a policy based on the 1932 Khatian land records.
The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly elections are scheduled for November 13 and 20, with results expected on November 23.
