'Data available': Congress backs Rahul Gandhi's claims on Maharashtra investments transferred to Gujarat

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday defended party leader and leader of opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks accusing the ruling party of diverting investments from Maharashtra to Gujarat. Ramesh, speaking to ANI, said that there is concrete data supporting the claim that the BJP has favored Gujarat over Maharashtra in awarding critical projects. Ramesh’s comments came after the BJP lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that Rahul's statements were intended to sow discord between states.

The BJP contended that his remarks, made during a campaign speech in Mumbai on November 6, were false and divisive. According to Ramesh, several planned investments and projects meant for Maharashtra were redirected to Gujarat. "What are they complaining about? What has Rahul Gandhi said? Everyone has said it.



It has been printed in newspapers that several projects and investments that were scheduled to come to Maharashtra have been shifted by the PM to Gujarat," he said. Ramesh also criticised the BJP for pressuring investors to move their projects to Gujarat. “Those who want to invest in Maharashtra shouldn’t be threatened and told to go to Gujarat.

Maharashtra already has the infrastructure to support these investments,” Ramesh added. The Congress leader further expressed confidence in his party’s prospects in the upcoming Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections. Ramesh said that the Congress alliances, Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra and JMM-Congress in Jharkhand, would secure a clear mandate, despite the BJP's negative campaigning.

This comes after the BJP sought action from the Election Commission against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for violating the model code of conduct. The BJP alleged that Rahul's comments were an attempt to spread falsehoods and stir divisions between states, and they demanded an FIR be lodged for "malicious and slanderous" campaigning. Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who led the BJP’s delegation to the Election Commission, condemned the Congress leader’s statements.

“Leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi tried to spread falsehoods and create conflict between states. It’s false propaganda and should be stopped,” Meghwal said..