Shirdi/Kolhapur, Nov 16 (PTI) Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of spreading lies that Rahul Gandhi is against reservations.

Modi and Shah are scared of Rahul Gandhi because he wants a caste census, she claimed while canvassing for the MVA for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.

Priyanka addressed rallies in Shirdi and Kolhapur.

She alleged that Rs 10 crore worth of projects have been siphoned off from Maharashtra, resulting in the loss of 8 lakh jobs and the closure of 6,000 businesses.

The AICC general secretary accused the Mahayuti leaders of insulting Shivaji Maharaj by causing his statue to collapse in Sindhudurg district in August, alleging corruption.

“The statue of Shivaji Maharaj outside Parliament was removed. The statue installed in Sindhudurg, collapsed as corruption took place in its construction. What is the point of taking the legendary king’s name if you want to insult that person?” she asked.

Priyanka claimed that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s country and its people are being insulted. “All these leaders, including Modi ji, take his name (Shivaji Maharaj) but do not respect it,” she asserted.

The prime minister laid the groundwork for the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but later stopped the work, she claimed, apparently referring to the warrior king’s proposed memorial in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai.

She challenged Prime Minister Modi to publicly announce that a caste census would be conducted and that the 50% reservation cap would be removed.

“But Modi and Shah are saying from the public platform that my brother is against reservation. Rahul crossed from Manipur to Mumbai leading to Nyaya Yatra and you accuse him of being against reservations. They tell lies from public platforms because they know that person. traveled from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in search of justice and for caste census,” Priyanka added.

She alleged that Maharashtra is facing discrimination as several industrial projects are being taken away from the state and taken to other regions.

“The prime minister is like a mother to the nation. And as a mother does not discriminate between her children, he should not discriminate between states,” the AICC general secretary said.

Priyanka said (former prime ministers) Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi set up big businesses and institutions like AIIMS and IITs, built dams and canals and built infrastructure and factories while building the nation without discrimination.

A former prime minister decided to set up an International Financial Services Center in Mumbai, but it was taken to Gujarat, she said without naming names.

“Thousands of companies have left Maharashtra, major projects and big companies have been shifted away from here. The investments of 10 million lei were taken. Maharashtra has lost around 8 lakh jobs while over 6,000 businesses have closed down,” claimed Priyanka.

Despite systematic attempts to weaken Maharashtra, they (BJP leaders) claim to strengthen the state, she added.

She said Vedanta Foxconn, Tata-Airbus, drug park and other projects have gone outside Maharashtra in the last ten years.

“When there are elections, Modiji went abroad. Just before the election campaign ended, he left the country,” added Priyanka.

She dismissed claims of complete eradication of terrorism under Modi rule.

“The people of Maharashtra, especially my sisters, are facing a different terror: the terror of inflation. People across the country and Maharashtra are reeling from inflation, but no one seems worried,” the Congress leader added.

Priyanka claimed that the state government launched the ‘Ladki Bahin’ cash transfer scheme with an eye on the elections.

“Is Rs 1,500 enough to cover household expenses including gas cylinders and food? They (Mahayuti) have been in power for 2.5 years. They (BJP) ruled the country for the last 10 years. Why have they introduced the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme now?” she asked.

Priyanka accused the Prime Minister of not addressing the concerns of farmers who are suffering due to the government’s policies.

“Cotton, onion and soybean prices have not increased in the last decade. Farmers are troubled,” she claimed.

Priyanka also claimed that debts worth Rs 16 crore of big corporates were written off by the government, while farmers and common people suffered.

“Congress-led governments have waived off farm loans in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Karnataka,” she added.

The Congress leader said that the rulers claim to uphold the Constitution but in fact they are violating its provisions.

“According to our Constitution, the vote is the most powerful tool of the people. But in Maharashtra, after the last state assembly polls, the government was stolen through bribery, intimidation and central agencies.

“The people of Maharashtra have been betrayed. This has been orchestrated by Modiji and BJP leaders who have overthrown a well-functioning government using corrupt means. Yet they are talking about the Constitution,” Priyanka alleged.

Does the Constitution allow governments to be overthrown using money and muscle power? Where are these crores of rupees coming from to buy MPs?” she asked.

Priyanka claimed that the promises were implemented by the Congress in various states after coming to power.

In Kolhapur, Priyanka said PM Modi’s speeches reflect contradictions in his words and actions.

“Modi’s speeches are disappointing as they lack truth. We expect the prime minister and chief ministers to speak the truth and talk about positive things (by virtue of their constitutional positions),” she said.

(This report was published as part of the auto-generated syndicate feed. Apart from the headline, no copy editing was done by ABP Live.)