Rahul Gandhi flags 'menace of drugs, illegal liquor, farmers plight' in Gujarat, slams BJP

Ahmedabad: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Parliament Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Bhupendra Patel-led BJP government over range of issues including "rising cases of drug abuse, rampant illicit alcohol trade, and the plight of farmers despite the "double engine" both in the state at the Centre.

The Congress leader in a post on X said that the ongoing Gujarat Congress' "Jan Aakrosh Yatra" in the state, "people, especially women, have repeatedly complained of rising rising cases of drug abuse, illegal alcohol trade, and crime have deeply affected their sense of security."

"Gujarat is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, which has had the traditions of truth, morality, and justice. However, for the past few years, the future of youth is being pushed toward the dark world of drugs and crime," read his post written in Hindi.

The state Congress organised the statewide "Jan Akrosh Yatra" from November 21 to flag issues of farmers, students, women, youth, among others. The yatra, which is said to be the first phase, will end on Wednesday at Becharaji temple in Mehsana district.

Referring to the feedback from people during the yatra, the Congress leader said, "Women, in large numbers, are taking to the streets because criminals are being protected by those in power, while they themselves are met only with neglect."

"Gujarat is asking — why is the BJP government silent? Which BJP minister is providing cover for all this? Why are traitors of Gujarat being shielded?" Rahul wrote on X. He said that during the yatra, another issue that he claimed to have come up in every meeting was related to farmers.

"The recent devastating floods have ruined thousands of Gujarati families and destroyed farmers' crops. When Modi ji was the chief minister of Gujarat, his promise of relief packages never stopped. Today, Gujarat is sinking, there's a double-engine government, he is the prime minister, yet there is neither adequate relief nor any empathy in sight," Rahul claimed.

Rahul Gandhi's post further claimed, "There is massive public outrage in Gujarat — every family is concerned about the future of their children. Every family is asking- Why hasn't the farmers' debt been waived off? Why hasn't the drug trade been eradicated? Congress will continue to listen to the people and will consistently expose the failures and corruption of the BJP government," he claimed.