What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday slammed the BJP over the old pension scheme saying that the ruling party’s silence on the issue indicates that they are not in favour of the scheme.
With just five days left for the crucial assembly polls, former Rajasthan Deputy Chief minister Sachin Pilot on Monday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the old pension scheme (OPS) saying that the ruling party’s silence on the issue indicates that they are not in favour of the scheme.
Pilot, who is one of the star campaigners for the Congress in the hill state, also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging voters to vote in favour of the BJP indicates that its candidates are not strong.
Addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, he said, “Both the engines of the BJP’s much touted double engine are not functioning properly. One of the engines will cease in 2022, while the other will do so in 2024.”
Pilot claimed that there is a wave of change in the state, and the people of the state have decided for a change.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pilot said, “The Prime Minister urged the people of the state to not look at the candidates, but look at the symbol, which indicates that their candidates are weak and would not be able to win. And that’s the reason why the Prime Minister has to say that. They are unable to ask for votes on the issue of development.”
Pilot also said that the campaigning by the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several other union ministers shows that the condition of the BJP is not good here. “In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP is on the backfoot,” Pilot said.
Talking about the BJP’s manifesto, which was released on Sunday, the Congress leader said, “On the issue of OPS, the BJP is completely silent as it doesn’t want to implement it. If (BJP) talks about implementing the OPS, then they will have to implement it in other states too. That’s why they are silent.”
Pilot said that wherever there is a Congress government, the OPS has been implemented. “We will fulfil our promise of implementing OPS in Himachal Pradesh too,” he said.
While responding to a question, about how Congress will fulfil the promise of the OPS, Pilot said, “OPS has been implemented in Rajasthan. BJP leaders are misleading in this regard.”
Pilot said that the increasing debt of Himachal is the result of the mismanagement of the BJP government.
He also alleges that the BJP government in Himachal has misused the loan. “Announcements of crores have been made without a budget before elections,” Pilot said.
Saying that the BJP has been doing politics by diverting people from the issues, Pilot said, “The people of the state have come to know what their problem is, who can solve it.”
Pilot also said that the people of the state are suffering from inflation and unemployment, and the BJP is not talking about it. “The unemployment figure in Himachal is the highest in the country,” he said.
Pilot said that the government, which claims to have a double engine, has not been able to get any help from the Centre.
Talking about his party’s chances in the election, Pilot said that he has been to many places in the state and has seen that the atmosphere is completely in favour of the Congress. The people here are not going to fall into the trap of the BJP, he said.
Polling for the 68 member assembly is scheduled for November 12, while the counting of votes will take place on December 8.
On Tuesday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will also reach Himachal Pradesh for a two-day visit. Kharge is scheduled to address two public meetings on Wednesday. Besides Kharge, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala too will address public meetings in the state.
