Weather staples Rahul’s Uttarakhand rallies, takes on Modi’s government via video, phone

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addressed two public meetings in Uttarakhand through phone and video call after bad weather prevented him from reaching places in Almora and Pauri Garhwal. The Congress leader accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pursuing policies he claimed benefited foreign interests while undermining key socio-economic safeguards at home.

Mr Gandhi was visiting the hill state to launch the Congress’s campaign for the Uttarakhand assembly elections, which are scheduled for early next year. Addressing a gathering of ex-servicemen in Pauri Garhwal via video link, he apologized for his absence and praised Uttarakhand’s long tradition of military service.

Soldiers join the army, navy and air force driven by patriotism and willingness to sacrifice for the nation, Mr. Gandhi said. He described an “unwritten contract” between soldiers and the government, whereby personnel dedicated their lives to the defense of the country while the state guaranteed protection and support for them and their families.

“The Agniveer scheme has violated this sacred understanding by undermining the long-term security and benefits of soldiers… The scheme undermines the basic relationship between the armed forces and the government and does not provide adequate protection to soldiers’ families in case of casualties,” he said, reiterating the Congress party’s opposition to the scheme. The plan would be reviewed and scrapped if Congress came to power, he said.

He alleged that the Agniveer program was linked to the government’s efforts to divert defense resources to a handful of large corporate groups. He also criticized the government over issues related to disability pensions and veterans’ welfare.

The Congress leader warned of what he described as a looming economic crisis and attacked the recent Indo-US deal, saying it threatened India’s energy security, agriculture sector, data sovereignty and small and medium enterprises. He argued that the deal favored US President Donald Trump and his interests while exposing Indian farmers and businesses to unfair competition.

Mr Gandhi also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of concentrating economic and strategic assets in the hands of a few groups of companies, arguing that such concentration posed a risk to national security.

Apart from the video call in Pauri, Mr. Gandhi also addressed a public rally through a telephone call in Almora. During the video call, he also spoke to the parents of 18-year-old Ankita Bhandari, who was ambushed and murdered in 2022, and assured them of full support in the fight for justice for their daughter.

Mr Gandhi was also scheduled to meet party workers in Dehradun on Friday (June 5, 2026), which was also cancelled. He headed back to Delhi and said he would be back soon.

Published – 04 Jun 2026 20:59 IST