Chamarajanagar, Mar 24 (PTI): Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the BJP of "attacking" the Constitution and vowed to thwart any attempt to change the statute.
Addressing a rally in poll-bound Karnataka after visiting a temple of Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru, he said the BJP was not only snatching away people's money through note ban and GST, but "there is new fashion now, they are attacking the Constitution."
"Hear it from here. We will not allow the BJP to change the Constitution. How much ever BJP forces its way to change the Constitution, we will make sure that the Congress will protect the work of Ambedkarji," he told the gathering.
Gandhi is on the fourth leg of campaign tour in Karnataka, covering Mandya, Mysuru and Chamarajnagar districts during his two-day visit.
He had earlier toured the northern, coastal and Malnad regions.
The Congress president accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "insensitive" towards problems related to jobs and demonetization.
"I interacted with young students this morning. One of the girl students stood up and asked me about Narendra Modiji's promise to give two crore jobs every year and his "Make In India" programme... but that turned out to be an empty promise and there was no weight behind those words," he said at the rally held here as part of "Janashirvada Yatre" .
Gandhi said nobody has benefited from the note ban and questioned the rationale of having five different GST rates, including 28 per cent.
"A girl stands up and says nobody has been benefited by the note ban. Another girl stands up and says why are there five separate rates, including 28 per cent. ... It only means that the students aged between 18 to 20 years have understood the problems, but Narendra Modji is yet to understand," he added.
Gandhi also alleged that through demonetization, most of the "cheats" converted their black money into white by depositing it in banks.
The Congress president began his speech by invoking Tipu Sultan, the 18th century Mysore ruler, Krishnaraja Wodayar, 24th maharaja of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom, Sir M Vishveshwariah, renowned engineer, and Kuvempu, Kannada poet, by remembering their contributions to Karnataka and India.
Indian economy growing, but not generating jobs: Rahul
Mysuru, March 24 (IANS): Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday lamented that the Indian economy was growing but not generating jobs for the citizens.
"We are growing decently as an economy, but we are not creating jobs because those who have skills aren't getting access to finance and support," Gandhi said while interacting with students at Maharani's Arts and Commerce College for Women here.
Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to the poll-bound Karnataka's old Mysuru region, was taking questions from the students in the 30-minute long interaction.
During several of his earlier speeches, Gandhi had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not keeping his promise of delivering 2 crore jobs a year.
This is Gandhi's fourth visit to Karnataka since February.
Huge amount of money was going into the hands of very few people in the country, he remarked.
"(Diamond jeweller) Nirav Modi has absconded with crores of people's money. Can you imagine how many businesses could have been built by young women like you all if you had access to that kind of money," the Congress chief queried.
Nirav Modi has been accused in a Rs 13,540 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.
Responding to a student's question on what he thought of high-value currency note ban in November 2016, Gandhi termed the policy a "disaster".
"Demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) were very badly conceived and damaging steps for the country. (Former Finance Minister) P. Chidambaram said the step was insane," the 47-year-old recalled.
One person experimenting with the nation was dangerous, he said.
"Congress believes that on a country of the size of India, one cannot do experiments. Ideas need to be tested on a small scale and then rolled out," Gandhi added.
No economist in the world would admit that demonetisation did any good to the Indian economy, he asserted.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi visited the popular Chamundeshwari Temple along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, party state unit president G. Parameshwara and other senior leaders to pray for the ruling party's success in the Assembly polls due in April-May.
Unaware of NCC training, benefits for cadets: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that he was unaware of the training and benefits of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in the country.
Responding to a question by a student at the Maharani's Arts and Commerce College for Women here on the benefits he would like to be extended to the NCC cadets who have cleared 'C' certificate examination, Gandhi admitted he was "unaware" of the training.
"I don't know the details of NCC training, so I won't be able to answer that. But, as a young Indian person I'd like to give you an opportunity where you can have opportunities, a successful education and a future where you can thrive in this country," the 47-year-old party chief said.
Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to the poll-bound Karnataka's old Mysuru region till Sunday, was taking questions from the students in a 30-minute long interaction.
The NCC, which operates under the defence ministry, recruits and gives military training to cadets in high schools, colleges and universities all over the country.
Under the voluntary programme, students have examinations with 'A', 'B' and 'C' level certificates, with the C certificate being the highest, giving the students benefits of special entry into the military and government services in the country and priority in competitive examinations.