Ludhiana can compete with China if small, medium businesses get support: Rahul

TIL Desk/National/Ludhiana/ Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said Ludhiana’s small and medium businesses can compete with China if they are given adequate support even as he attacked the Punjab government and the Centre for not supporting them. Gandhi, who is currently undertaking the Punjab leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, charged that hatred, violence and fear were being spread in the country as he sought to hit out at the BJP.

“There should be no place for hatred and violence in the country. It is a country of brotherhood, love and respect,” he said while addressing a gathering in Ludhiana. He also targeted the BJP-led Centre over the issue of demonetisation, saying it hit the small and medium enterprises hard.  “How Ludhiana (small and medium businesses) was hit? Prime Minister ji implemented demonetisation and wrong GST,” he alleged.

“Demonetisation and ‘wrong’ GST are not policies. Demonetisation and ‘wrong’ GST are weapons to end the small and medium enterprises. This is the truth,” said Gandhi. “The country’s ‘arabpatis’ (billionaires) cannot give employment to the country. Ludhiana’s small and medium businesses can give employment in the country. If they are strengthened and given support, Ludhiana can compete against China. This is the truth.