Ghaziabad: Rahul Gandhi, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, held a press conference in Ghaziabad where he strongly criticised the electoral bonds scheme, labeling it as the “biggest extortion scheme in the world” and alleging Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to be the “champion of corruption.”
Gandhi questioned why the Supreme Court struck down the electoral bonds scheme if it was intended to bring transparency, as claimed by PM Modi.
Gandhi further criticized Modi’s recent interview with news agency ANI, calling it “scripted” and a “flop show,” and raised concerns about transparency in the electoral bonds system, highlighting the lack of disclosure of donor names and donation dates.
Regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, both leaders expressed confidence in the INDIA bloc’s prospects, predicting that the BJP would be limited to around 150 seats despite aiming for over 400 seats. Gandhi clarified that while he doesn’t predict specific seat numbers, recent developments have led him to revise his estimate downward from 180 to around 150 seats for the BJP.
Responding to Modi’s criticism of the Congress’ poverty eradication plan, Gandhi emphasised that while poverty cannot be eradicated overnight, concerted efforts will be made in that direction. Akhilesh Yadav highlighted the INDIA alliance as a new hope for addressing poverty through measures benefiting farmers, such as guaranteed MSPs and increased income.
Yadav stressed the importance of unity in ensuring the BJP’s defeat in the upcoming elections, asserting the goal of preventing any vote division.
In Uttar Pradesh, Congress and the SP are fighting in alliance, with Congress contesting 17 seats and the SP and other allies contesting the remaining 63 seats out of the state’s total of 80 Lok Sabha seats.
