'India' will form government in 2024; KC Venugopal hits out at Amit Shah for 'ATM' jibe

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday expressed confidence that the opposition alliance-India Bloc will form the government at the Center after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In an exclusive conversation with news agency ANI, he said, 'The two-day Mumbai conclave gave a message of solid unity about the India block.

After seeing the unity efforts of the opposition parties, we can understand the state of nervousness of the BJP. We will start the seat-sharing process. We will come to that process easily. As far as possible, we will fight against the BJP led by PM Modi. We will form the government when elections are held in 2024.

The Congress leader hit back at the BJP's allegation saying 'each member of the India bloc is working to advance their own interests and project their leaders to top positions'. On Union Minister Amit Shah's allegation of the Congress calling the Chhattisgarh government an 'ATM machine', he said, "Yes, the Congress party is making the state of Chhattisgarh an ATM machine for the poor."

Appreciating the achievements of the Chhattisgarh government, KC Venugopal said, 'Our ATM machines are meant to strengthen the poor people of the state. Can I ask a question Amit Shah ji? When we are empowering poor people with ATM machines, what is your ATM doing to empower one or two major corporate heads? This is why we are seeing scams. Your ATM will only work for three millionaires. Our ATM will work for poor people. That is the difference.

Actually, Amit Shah addressed a meeting in Saraipali, Chhattisgarh on Saturday (September 2). In his address, he said, 'Uproot the government which stole the rice of the tribals, no one should vote for the Bhupesh Baghel-government which did the rice scam. Bhupesh Baghel wants to make a Congress ATM in Chhattisgarh, but we will not let this happen. We will develop the state. Please tell that Chhattisgarh assembly elections are going to be held later this year.