Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not the only one championing the cause of Make in India. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is lending support to the Swadeshi cause as well, albeit in his style.
Addressing a poll rally in Manipur on February 28, the Congress leader, making a pitch for a food-processing unit, said, “I would also want when someone drinks coconut juice in London and sees Made in Manipur is written on it.”
The northeastern state, where the climate is not ideal for growing coconut, votes for a new assembly in two phases — on March 4 and 8.
Gandhi’s comment triggered several jokes on social media but this is not the first time that the 46-year-old Amethi MP’s ideas on boosting industry have caused mirth.
February 8 (Ghaziabad): Speaking at a poll rally, Gandhi said, “I want to see the day when bed sheet used in Barack Obama’s house will have Made in Uttar Pradesh mark.”
The Congress leader also criticised the Prime Minister for failing to deliver the promised “Achche din (good days)”. He said the promise has come true only for industrialists as the country’s farmers continue facing “burey din (bad days)”.
The Congress has often accused the government of following being pro-industry and anti-farmer policies.
Ghazibad, which has a thriving steel and dyeing industry, was one of the 73 constituencies that were voted for on February 11, the first of the seven phases of polling for the UP state assembly.
February 17 (Rae Bareli): The Congress leader again used the government’s ambitious Make in India programme to hit out at the Prime Minister at a poll meeting in Rae Bareli, saying “we only see Made in China on everything”.
His sister Priyanka by his side, Gandhi went on to explain, “It is because that our PM only listens to 50 corporate families in India and he has helped Vijay Mallya escape and collectively waived off six lakh crore loan for his corporate friends.”
The PM, he said, could have helped with some money in setting up food-processing plants in the area. “I want to see Made in Rae Bareli on packaged products one day,” Gandhi said.
Rae Bareli, which has five assembly segments, is the Lok Sabha constituency of his mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Rae Bareli voted on February 23.
March 6, 2014 (Mirzapur): Addressing a rally in the carpet-manufacturing belt of Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi said he wanted the American president to one day wear a wrist watch bearing Made in Mirzapur tag.
“I want to see a day when the American president is asked: ‘Bhaiya, what is the time?’ He looks at his watch and on it is written Made in Mirzapur. He then asks his people: ‘Where is this Mirzapur? These youth of Mirzapur are snatching jobs from American youth. Where is this place?” sources quoted Gandhi as saying.
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Source: HindustanTimes