Farmers Movement Archive

Jobs ‘reserved’ for LDF workers: Rahul; slams govt

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday targeted the state government on backdoor appointments, saying it is sad that the unemployed youths in the state are unable to find a job since they are not supporters of the left front. "If you carry their flag, you can even smuggle gold sitting in the chief minister’s office. There is only one way to fight nepotism, go on a hunger strike. But the chief minister is not going to come to you and talk. He will not be interested in talking to you since you are not an LDF worker. Only LDF workers will get jobs though they don’t deserve them," he said. Rahul alleged a nexus between the LDF and BJP, and said that was why the cases against the LDF are going at a snail’s pace. “I always wonder why the CBI and ED are not attacking the LDF when the BJP is very fast to attack us when we criticize them,” he said. Rahul was addressing a mammoth rally held as part of the conclusion of the UDF's 'Aishwarya Yatra' at Sanghumugham in Thiruvananthapuram. "You can figure out the reasons why the BJP is going slow on cases against LDF," he said. On the recent controversy over MoUs signed with a US-based company for promoting deep sea fishing, he said the LDF government had betrayed the fishing community. The AICC leader slammed both the Centre and the state government for the fuel price hike. "The fuel price is coming down in the international market but in India it is skyrocketing. Neither the Centre nor the state government is worried about it. The common man is being taxed. Every single rupee they pay for fuel is going to the richest of the rich in the country," he said. Rahul said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was terming those farmers who are on a strike to protect their livelihood as terrorists. "The new farm laws ensure neither fair price nor natural justice to them. They can't even fight for fair price in the court of law as per the new law," he said. The Congress MP said the UDF would bring out a people’s manifesto after hearing the people. "It will be a document of the voices of the concerned and deprived. I assure you that an UDF government will address all your voices raised in our manifesto," he said. The leader, who reached the capital in the evening, also attended meetings of the UDF and KPCC election committee. He urged all UDF constituents to field candidates with the ability to win. Merit alone should be the criteria for candidates, he said. The UDF constituent leaders, meanwhile, wanted him to spearhead the election campaign in the state.

The Times of India

2021-02-24

Kochi