The leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha mentioned FCRA amendments during his campaign meetings in the Christian belt of Kottayam on Monday, as pressure mounts on the NDA regime from the Opposition parties to withdraw the amendments citing them as harsh.
The BJP would get funds from industrialists while the RSS would benefit from the changes in the FCRA, but flow of foreign funds to other genuine welfare organisations would be heavily crippled, Gandhi said, referring to Christian organisations.
The FCRA bill gives a decisive advantage to the RSS in accessing funding, while leaving charitable and other community welfare organisations at the mercy of the central government, Gandhi said. “This stands in stark contrast to the UDF’s people-centric approach. UDF works for the people, while LDF and BJP work only for their own organisational interests.”
SILENCE OVER SABARIMALA
Gandhi sought to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “silence” on the “loot of Sabarimala temple” under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The silence, he said, proved what he called the unholy alliance between the BJP and CPI(M).
“We have a fundamental ideological difference with the BJP and RSS,” he said, adding that the BJP understood that the LDF could never challenge them at the national level. “If BJP is in power in Delhi, they believe the LDF in Kerala is fully under their control.”The AICC leader said though he referred to the LDF as the Left front, it does not conduct itself like one. “In its actions and policies, it is as corporate as the BJP,” Gandhi said, adding that even LDF workers would admit to it as much if asked.
The Pinarayi government, he alleged, was at the mercy of corporates and was more than happy to maintain close relationship with businessmen.
MANUFACTURING, JOBS
The AICC expressed concern over manufacturing not picking up in India resulting in loss of jobs. The mike he was using, Gandhi said, was made in China, not in India. “How will young people get jobs if we do not manufacture in India? And how will we build industries in Keralam if one or two companies control its future?”
PM Modi and Chief Minister Vijayan were handing over the country to Adani and Ambani. The two leaders were not focused on generating broad-based employment for the people of India. Kerala, Gandhi said, needed to strengthen its small and medium industries. It must reinforce its agricultural foundation.
