I asked Jayanthi to protect tribals, says Rahul

Taking the fight to the BJP camp, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of fielding Jayanthi Natarajan against him to create obstacles in his fight for the rights of the poor.

Putting up his aggressive best in the last leg of campaigning for Delhi polls, Rahul ridiculed Modi for not following his own ‘Make in India’ initiative. “He wears Rs 10 lakh suit, even that is not Made in India. It is Made in the UK,” he said at a rally in Jahangirpuri here.

Rahul admitted that he did intervene in the functioning of the Environment Ministry by asking Natarajan to protect the interests of tribals.

“Yes, I asked Jayanthi Natarajan to save the environment and the tribals,” Rahul said in his first response to the former environment minister’s allegations of his “interference” in the ministry affairs.

However, the Congress vice-president chose to remain silent on Natarajan’s claims that she was sacked as minister as the party wanted to assure the corporate sector that there would be no delays in granting environment clearances for their projects.

Rahul said Modi “fielded” Natarajan against him a  day after he had said “something” about the prime minister. He accused the prime minister of working only to benefit his “four-five industrial friends”.
“I have joined politics to ensure welfare of the poor and the weaker sections of the society and not to benefit some businessmen,” Rahul said.

He said the Congress has always stood by the poor and the oppressed classes. “You do not leave your own people to benefit others,” he said adding that the UPA government enacted stricter land acquisition laws despite facing stiff opposition.“I can tell you, this damaged the UPA politically as those powers who incurred losses due to our policies stood against us,” Rahul said.

In a show of strength, Rahul took out an impressive road show in the Chandni Chowk area to canvas for party candidates Ajay Maken, Shoaib Iqbal, Haroon Yusuf who are contesting from Assembly constituencies in central Delhi.

People turned up in huge numbers as Rahul’s convoy passed through the narrow roads in the area. Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Haroon Yusuf, Arvinder Singh Lovely among others were seen with Rahul.

Activists from the National Students Union of India and the Youth Congress turned up in huge numbers to mobilise crowds for the roadshow.