Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 7: As the stock markets bled with benchmark Sensex sinking by over 2,200 points on Monday in the aftermath of US President Donald Trump’s tariff war, the Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the US President had “blown the lid of the illusion.”
Claiming that the Prime Minister was “nowhere to be seen,” Mr Gandhi argued that India would have to accept the reality that it had no choice but to build a production-based economy. “Trump has blown the lid off the illusion. Reality is biting back. PM Modi is nowhere to be seen,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. “India has to accept reality. We have no choice but to build a resilient, production-based economy that works for all Indians,” he added.
Later Mr Gandhi joined the party’s ongoing ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do‘ (Stop Migration, Provide Jobs) padyatra in Bihar’s Begusarai district. With eyes on the state assembly polls later this year, the Rae Bareli MP said the youth of Bihar “will not tolerate injustice anymore” and fight for their rights, employment and justice.
Clad in a white T-shirt, Rahul Gandhi participated in the padyatra accompanied by several party leaders, including Kanhaiya Kumar and state party president Rajesh Kumar. Sharing pictures from the yatra on his X handle, Gandhi said, “There is enthusiasm among the youth of Bihar to achieve something – and there is anger against the government for not providing them opportunities and support. The sentiments, suffering and determination of thousands of youth were clearly visible on the streets of Begusarai today during the ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do’ rally.”
“This voice against unemployment and migration has now become a cry for change. Bihar will not sit silent now, the youth will not tolerate injustice anymore – they will fight for their rights, employment and justice,” he added.
In a separate remark in Patna, Mr Gandhi blamed Mr Trump for the stock market crash. “The US president has led to a tumble in the stock market. Less than 1 per cent of the people here have their money invested in the stock market, which means the stock market is not a field for you. Unlimited money is made in it, but you don’t get the benefit of it,” the Lok Sabha LoP said.
On Sunday, Mr Gandhi had shared a minute-long video message on X, urging the youth of Bihar to join him in the march in Begusarai wearing “white T-shirts.” “Our aim is to draw the attention of the world to the plight of Bihar’s youth, who find government jobs getting scarce day by day and privatisation bringing no benefits. Let us bring the government in the state under pressure and change it,” he said in the video.
The Congress is part of the Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar, which also includes Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Left parties. Elections for Bihar Assembly are due for later this year.
