Rampur/Akbarpur (Uttar Pradesh)/Doda (Jammu and Kashmir), April 11 (IANS) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Friday slammed BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over his alleged links with Adani business group headquartered in Ahmedabad, saying Modi has cornered veteran BJP leaders and given more space to his big-business backers.
Addressing an election rally in Doda in Jammu region, Gandhi said the Adani group was "given everything" whereas senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders L.K. Advani and Jaswant Singh were "thrown out".
Modi is reportedly close to Gautam Adani, promoter of Adani Group.
Gandhi also attacked Modi over his marital status, saying Modi had not once mentioned his wife's name in the past.
"Narendra Modi has fought many elections in the past, but not once did he disclose the name of his wife nor even admit he is married," he said.
Modi wrote Jashodaben as the name of his wife in an affidavit while filing his nomination papers on April 9 in Vadodara, Gujarat for the Lok Sabha election.
In his speech, Gandhi told the people that his ancestors belonged to Jammu and Kashmir and ppealed people of Udhampur constituency to vote for the Congress candidate, union minister and former state chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Azad and state Congress unit chief, Saifuddin Soz accompanied him.
In his second rally at Akbarpur, in Ambedkar Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi rubbished development claims by Modi. He said: "In Gujarat the textile industry got closed and farmers are dying of hunger. What development are they (BJP) talking about?"
In an attempt to boost Congress' prospects in the Hindi heartland, Gandhi promised that if Congress is elected to power, it would extend its right to food programme to Uttar Pradesh.
"The UPA ensured that children throughout the country get food, but the Samajwadi Party did not implement the programme in UP fearing this might help the Congress in election. But once we are voted to power, we will ensure UP too benefits from the scheme," he said.
Gandhi finished the day's campaign with a well-attended road show in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. In the 10-12 kilometre travel, he stopped at different locations and shook hands with the youngsters.
He made short speeches drawing people's atention to the state's ruling Samajwadi Party's chief Mulayam Singh's comments that rape victims should not be handed out death penalty.
The youth participated in the road show in large numbers.
International Yoga Day: PM Modi practices yoga with 15000 people; ITBP jawans do Surya Namaskar amidst snow
The 8th International Yoga Day is being celebrated all over the world including India today. PM Modi had reached the Mysuru Palace Ground in Karnataka to celebrate Yoga Day. He did yoga with about
Asaduddin Owaisi compared hijab with vermilion and mangalsutra, said - Allah's decree in the Quran
The judges of the Supreme Court were divided on Thursday regarding the ban on hijab and now the matter will be referred to a larger bench. Meanwhile, the issue of hijab has once again taken political
Delhi-NCR Stray Dogs: 'I will look into it, ' said CJI Gavai on the petition related to stray dogs
An appeal was made in the Supreme Court for an early hearing on a petition regarding stray dogs. The petition was filed by the Conference for Human Rights (India) in 2024, challenging an order of the
Jharkhand: Kharge claims- PM Modi had received an intelligence report of a terrorist attack, which is why he canceled his Jammu and Kashmir visit
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge fiercely targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi. He claimed on Tuesday that Prime Minister Modi had
Cyclone Pam threatens Windies' quarterfinal hopes
Napier, March 14 (IANS) The West Indies are keeping an anxious watch on the weather ahead of Sunday’s crucial fixture against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the cricket World Cup as
Air Pollution: On the plea of the UP government, the CJI said- So you want to shut down the industry in Pakistan
Hearing on air pollution case was held in Supreme Court today. The UP government today told the Supreme Court that sugarcane and milk industries in the state may be affected due to the closure of
HC notice to Centre over Prashant Bhushan's plea
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Friday issued notice to the central government on a plea by advocate Prashant Bhushan challenging the government's refusal to reissue him a passport
Air India's homecoming: The company returned to the Tata Group after 68 years, the deal was finalized for Rs 18,000 crore
Air India is back home. Tata Group is buying it for Rs 18,000 crore. This was announced by the Finance Ministry's Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). Air India and Air India
Lionel Messi: Messi lost and hooting in his farewell match for PSG, Clermont defeated 3-2
Argentine legend Lionel Messi suffered a defeat in his farewell match for Paris Saint Germain (PSG). PSG, already assured of the French Football League title, lost 2-3 to Clermont. The PSG supporters
Modi, Kerry Pay Tribute to Paris Terror Victims
Gandhinagar, Jan 11 (IANS) With Parisians gearing up Sunday to hold a massive solidarity rally in France against the terror attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo, Prime Minister Narendra Modi