Mr Modi is Not Bigger than India; India is Bigger than Everything and Everyone: Key Quotes From Rahul Gandhi’s Interview
In an exclusive interview to Hindustan Times, the Congress president spoke on an array of issues including agriculture, the MSME sector and jobs.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi (Photo: Twitter/@INCIndia)
In an interview to Hindustan Times, Congress president Rahul Gandhi slammed the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for ignoring the farmers and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He reiterated that the Centre has completely ignored the agriculture sector.
Here are the five best quotes from the Congress chief’s interview:
1) On farm loan waiver
The question is not about farm loan waiver alone. The question is that Mr Narendra Modi has waived Rs 3.5 lakh crore bank loans of 20-25 crony friends. Hence, farm loan waiver is a question of fairness also. Simple issue is, if you can waive Anil Ambani’s loans, why can’t you help the farmers of this country by loan waiver?
2) On agriculture
India is emotionally connected to agriculture. We feel the pain and tribulations of our farmers. Mr Narendra Modi might think agriculture is irrelevant, we think the opposite. We think farmers are part of the economic structure and agriculture needs to be integrated effectively with our economy.
3) On MSMEs
You are not going to get jobs from 15-20 biggest industrialists in the country alone. You will generate jobs from unleashing the huge potential of micro, small and medium businesses. I am not saying that the biggest business should not have space. They should absolutely have space, but micro, small and medium businesses should have access to banks and policy.
4) On the manufacturing sector
I subscribe to the view that India can compete and surpass China in manufacturing. China has successfully taken its traditional knowledge hubs and connected them to the global economy.
5) On Modi govt’s attack on institutions
We have been in government, we have been in Opposition and we believe that you simply do not touch institutions or attack India’s federal structure. You protect institutions because institutions are the soul of India. And Mr Modi is not bigger than India. India is bigger than everything and everyone.