Prime Minister Narendra Modi made all-out efforts to topple Himachal Pradeshs democratically-elected Congress government by using money power, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged on Monday. The Congress general secretary, who was campaigning in Chamba for the partys Kangra Lok Sabha seat candidate Anand Sharma, also said the Congress was in power for 55 years but could not become the richest party. The BJP, on the other hand, has become the richest party in the world in just 10 years, she claimed. Modi made all-out efforts to topple the democratically-elected Congress government in the state by indulging in corrupt practices and using money power, Priyanka Gandhi said during the rally. She also asked the crowd at the rally if they would want such a leader. Priyanka Gandhi claimed that the only purpose of BJP leaders, starting from Modi, is to grab power at any cost and they indulge in corrupt practices, use money power, bribe legislators and mislead people in the name of God to achieve their purpose. She added that a report had claimed the saffron party spent Rs 60,000 crore in the past one or two years. During her address, the Congress leader also spoke on her affinity with the state. My heart is in Himachal Pradesh. It is a beautiful state, known for its culture and honesty. The country should learn from Himachal Pradesh, she said. Priyanka also hit out at PM for abandoning Himachal Pradesh in crises and accused him of abandoning the people of the state in their hour of need when disaster struck the State following heavy rains in 2023, despite his claims of considering Himachal Pradesh to be his home. Addressing public meetings in Chamba and Shahpur in the Kangra parliamentary constituency, where former Union Minister Anand Sharma is in the fray, she said the PM had not visited Himachal Pradesh during its time of disaster, and also failed to provide any financial aid to the affected people. She said the Congress party never compromised on public interest, and blamed the BJP-led Union governments policies for rising inflation and unemployment, citing the Agniveer scheme as a prime example. She said that under the Agniveer scheme, youth are left jobless after four years, receive no pension, and lack financial support and status if martyred. The Congress would repeal the Agniveer scheme after coming to power, Priyanka Gandhi said. She added that after the formation of the Congress government at the Centre, women would be given Rs 8,500 per month, 30 lakh vacant posts in the government would be filled, 50% reservation would be given to women, and farmers would have a legal guarantee for minimum support prices. Urging voters to elect the Congress, she said that while the BJP talked about a double engine government, the Congress would focus on double service.  She said the current Congress government in Himachal Pradesh led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was working tirelessly and honestly to serve the people despite numerous challenges, and that all guarantees were being fulfilled. She said that with clear intentions, any government could achieve good results, and the Congress government had demonstrated this. The old pension scheme had been restored, and the announcement to give financial assistance of Rs 1,500 as pension to women had been made, Priyanka said. Priyanka hit the campaign trail in Himachal on Monday and she is scheduled to hold around 10 rallies and roadshows across the state over the next four days to garner support for the Congress candidates ahead of the June 1 polling in the state. Through extensive campaigning across the state, the Congress hopes to mitigate the impact that PM Narendra Modi may have left on the voters through his recent rallies in Nahan and Mandi.  Priyanka will not only campaign for the Lok Sabha candidates, but also for candidates contesting the Assembly bypoll. She is scheduled to hold public meetings at Gagret and Kutlehar and a road show at Barsar where byelections are to be held.

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