BJP had 3 CMs in Uttarakhand but didn’t even launch 3 welfare schemes: Hardik Patel

RUDRAPUR: Gujarat Congress president, Hardik Patel, on Thursday attacked the BJP government in

Uttarakhand

, saying, “The past five years of the BJP government in the state have been a period of misgovernance. They had three CMs but didn’t launch even three big welfare schemes for the people. The primary sectors of education, health, infrastructure, and employment are in shambles in the state. Migration is still a major issue in the hills.”

Addressing a press conference in Rudrapur, the Patidar leader said, “Under the previous Congress government in Uttarakhand, several new industries had come up but the incumbent regime couldn’t take forward the state’s development. If voted to power, Congress will provide the best employment opportunities to youth here and rid the state of caste and communal politics.”

Patel also hit back on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegation that Congress indulges in “appeasement politics”. He said, “If the Election Commission bans words like ‘Hindus’, ‘Muslims’, ‘temples’ and ‘mosques’ from being used in poll campaigns, BJP leaders would not be able to deliver any speech. PM Modi and other BJP leaders know nothing except for misleading people. They are denying fundamental rights to youth, women and farmers. Their politics is limited to polarisation.”

He went on to add that Modi’s “Gujarat development model” is a sham. “All BJP governments are dictatorial and believe in crushing all voices of dissent. I was booked under sedition charges when I raised my voice against the misgovernance in Gujarat.”

Later in the day, Patel held a roadshow in Rudrapur (Udham Singh Nagar) to campaign for Meena Sharma, the party's official nominee from the Rudrapur seat. Subsequently, he also conducted a door-to-door campaign.