Dediapada: Presented is rough translation of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s address(in Hindi) at Dediapada in tribal belt of Central/South Gujarat:

‘Gujarat has done so much for India. This region is splendor of India. When I was going to the temple of Goddess for darshan just now, there was a plastic bag handing on the tree. There was a word written on it which was ‘Anand’. A few years ago I traveled to Australia. Australia and New Zealand export milk to entire world. Their government had invited me. I said them I wanted to meet the farmers there. I had heard that they export milk. I wanted to understand how do they function. The government organized a meeting in which their top officers were also present. They displayed high techonolgy and computers they use. I asked them a small question, ‘please tell me do you sell this milk to India?’ I had no knowledge. I thought they might be selling milk to India too. And do you know what was their reply? They said ‘we can’t compete Anand and Amul’. I asked them ‘why not?’ You have biotechnology, 5-7-800 kg cow in size of a room, why can’t you compete Amul? Their reply was that Amul has power of Gujarat women. We can’t compete with them. When I speak about Anand, let me go in some depth. Modiji says what did Congress do in 70 years? Wherever he goes, he asks this. Many years ago in Gujarat, there was a company named Polson dairy. Amul or Anand was not there but Polson dairy was there. The women of Gujarat used to sell milk to Polson company. They were not getting good price. There was a monopoly of Polson company. Gujarat farmers and women were not getting good price for milk. Cows belonging to farmers, fields belonging to farmers, but profit was made by Polson company which was selling milk to American Army. The women of Gujarat went to Gandhiji and told him this Polson company is helping the English people. Our milk is snatched away by them. You should help us. Gandhiji called Sardar Patelji and asked him to go to Anand and stay with the women there and resist against Polson company. Sardar Patel came there and stood by farmers. Tribhuvan Patel too extended help and the voice of Gujarat farmers and women that was suppressed by Polson company was slowly heard. It didn’t happen in a year. Gandhiji, Sardar started it, Tribhuvan Patel gave his life. Crores of women built Amul through their blood and sweat. 70 years after this, I went to Australia and asked why they don’t export milk and I got answer that they can’t compete Amul, Gujarat and Anand.’

‘Today is foundation day of Gujarat, and that Gujarat which existed 70-80-90 years ago is not same. This change that has come, this development that has been achieved is not due to one person. Crores of women and crores of farmers have made this, and Congress ideology was also part of that.’

‘I spoke about women of Gujarat. I want to speak something about Gujarat farmers too. You have also played role in white revolution. You gave your blood and sweat. I want to ask the farmers of Gujarat, what Narendra Modiji has delivered to you in last 20 years! A few years ago at Bhatta Parsol in UP, the government was snatching land of farmers. I was asked to come there. I was told that big industries were snatching land of farmers. Congress stood up and we protected farming land in entire India. We moved new bill on land acquisition. A few years ago, I was stopped by a farmer and told, ‘Rahulji my land has been acquired but I am here to congratulate you that due to Congress party’s bill I have received proper price for my land’. Who was standing against Congress at that time? It was BJP and Narendra Modiji. He won the election and the first thing he did was attempt to reverse the bill through ordinances thrice. When he realized Congress would not step back for even an inch in this issue, he said he wasn’t intending to do that. In Gujarat, big industrialists get thousands of acre land as gift. I would not name who are they. And if farmers raise their voice, if farmers just seek their right, if farmers seek education for their children, then police would go to their homes and beat the women.’

‘In today’s Gujarat, only 10-15 people are in power, same like there was Polsan company’s rule in the past. And you all know the names of these 10-15 people. A few days ago, Patidar community people came to me and I was surprised as I heard them. They said their children don’t get education in Gujarat. And I asked them as I was surprised, that if their children don’t get education, then what happens to other people? If those who gave total support to Narendra Modiji were making complain then who was benefited. They said, the entire education system in Gujarat is in grip of 10-15 persons. All colleges, all universities, entire capitation money is pocketed by 10-15 persons in Gujarat and they are all friends of BJP and Narendra Modi. In this Vibrant Gujarat, no section has benefited. In this Vibrant Gujarat only 15 persons are benefited. All money for marketing come from them. Every year Modiji speaks about Vibrant Gujarat and Shinning Gujarat, but nothing actually happens(on the ground). This is a tribal area. Water, forest and land belong to you. It doesn’t belong to any industrialist. It doesn’t belong to 10-15 persons. Like in Anand where milk, cow and land didn’t belong to Polson dairy, in same way the land and water here belong to you. We brought PESA law. Wherever there was Congress govt, we implemented PESA law but in Gujarat, Narendra Modiji didn’t implement PESA law, and he didn’t give you your land.’

‘What Vaghelaji( in his speech) said (just now) was very true. BJP, RSS and Narendra Modi don’t consider tribals as human being. They believe tribal should come out of jungle and work for rich people in cities. Congress would not allow this to happen. When Congress would win election here, I guarantee your right for water, land and forest would be given to you. You will be the first to benefit from those resources. We brought NAREGA for you. Life of crores of people was changed through 100-day employment. Once I was sitting in Lok Sabha and Narendrabhai said he wouldn’t like to abolish NAREGA because he would wish to realize the people how bad laws Congress had made.’

‘Modi promised for 2 crore employment every year. Last year in entire India one lakh youths got employment. This year NDA govt minister said India has highest rate of unemployment at present. Not a single number of employment has been given this year. Speeches, marketing, Vibrant Gujarat …. but truth is that people of Gujarat are not benefited and there’s anger here. People of Gujarat trusted Narendra Modiji, and even in this crowd there could be two-three people who supported Modi, but truth is that farmers, small shop keepers(didn’t benefit). Strength that existed in Gujarat benefited Modi but Modi didn’t return the benefit. He didn’t do anything(for Gujarat). We don’t give loud promises, our marketing is not good, but we show our work.’

‘On 8 November, Narendra Modiji comes to TV and says he has got a new idea, your Rs 1000, 500 note , he is in mood to cancel it, ha ha ha ha ha… See how powerful I am. Just five words from my side and I can make every home feeling trouble. You understand my power, I am your PM whatever I intend to do, I can do. If I wish i can make you stand up in queues, you just listen to my mann ki baat. And I will speak to you about Make in India, Shining India, Swachch Bharat…. Your job is just to listen to what I speak. Congress party’s job is not to deliver mann ki baat, but like Gandhi asked Sardar to do, Congress party’s job is to listen to you. When elected to power, Congress will listen to tribal, farmers, labouerers, small shop keepers. Gujarat is not transformed by one person, but by people of Gujarat.’

‘Lastly I would say only one thing. Election is coming. I have sent Gehlotji and a team from AICC to Gujarat for that. All Congress leaders are sitting here on the stage. I want to say something on behalf of Congress party. If Congress is elected to power, it will be a government of all and not one person. That government will not tell ‘mann ki baat’ but will come to your door-step, adivasis, dalits, small shop keepers and try to listen to you. Our govt will build Gujarat. Congress will contest this election with full strength and Congress party will defeat Narendra Modiji and BJP.’

DeshGujarat