BJP wanted to repeal AFSPA: Congress' Pawan Khera

"I feel bad for the short memory which Narendra Modi has. In 2014,  BJP said in Kashmir that it will repeal AFSPA because it suited them there. We are not talking about repealing but reviewing AFSPA on three counts, enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture. We said review and not repeal. The Prime Minister of India should not lie whether it is an election or not," Khera said unveiling Congress' Lok Sabha poll manifesto in Kolkata.

What did Modi say over AFSPA?

Addressing a rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Wednesday, Narendra Modi said: "In their manifesto, the Congress has stated that they will dilute AFSPA. This move will help Pakistan sponsored terrorist. The Congress is determined to bring instability in the country."

In the manifesto, the Congress has proposed to reduce the presence of the Indian Army and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the Kashmir valley.

The party also proposed in its manifesto that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act in Jammu and Kashmir will be reviewed.  

Want to defeat Narendra Modi, says Khera over Rahul Gandhi's stance on Left

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Left-ruled Kerala's Wayanad constituency on Thursday and said he will not speak a word against the CPI-M during the poll campaign.

Reacting to Rahul's stance on Left, Khera said Congress' only intention is to defeat the BJP and enforce its agendas after coming to power.

He said: "The election is about the Narendra Modi government and its policies and ideologies. Congress party is the national alternative to fight the BJP. Rahul Gandhi has taken a positive approach.

If one asks Modi about farmers, he will reply with Pakistan issue. Rahul Gandhi will speak about farmers only if he is asked. Employment, farmers' welfare, women's security and business are the four agendas of Congress. We want to defeat Narendra Modi to enforce these agendas. Today the challenge is Narendra Modi's bad governance."

Wayanad is Rahul's second constituency as the opposition leader will also contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi.

No emergence of BJP in West Bengal

Though the BJP in recent by-polls relegated Left and Congress to third and fourth positions respectively, Pawan Khera finds no emergence of the saffron unit "on ground" in the eastern state.

"I don't see BJP as as emerging force on the ground in West Bengal. They are in the television screens for the last five years. BJP's curve is dependent upon content-less packaging. May be initially people got carried away by the packaging but now they know about the content," the Congress leader said.

No attack on Trinamool Congress

Though his party president Rahul Gandhi had attacked West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo, Mamata Banerjee, just days ago, Pawan Khera did not attack the ruling dispensation.

When specifically asked by IBNS whether Congress is fighting against both BJP and Trinamool in the state, Khera said: "In West Bengal just as anywhere else in the country, we are fighting for the poor, unemployed, small and medium businesses and women's safety. I can tell you what are we fighting for."

Days ago, Rahul had said: "The torture people faced during the time of CPI-M is the same as faced by people today under the tenure of Mamata Banerjee-led government."

Mamata did not react to Rahul and termed the Congress chief as "a small boy".

Image Credit: twitter.com/Pawankhera