Karauli (Rajasthan), April 20 (IANS) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Sunday came down heavily on the Gujarat model of development touted by the BJP and its prime ministerial aspirant Narendra Modi.
Gandhi said it is more of a "toffee model" that has benefitted only some industrialists in the western state while ignoring the interests of farmers and the poor.
The Gandhi scion was addressing an election rally in Rajasthan's Karauli town, over 200 km from the state capital Jaipur.
Gandhi alleged that 45,000 acres of land has been given to an industrialist for a mere Rs.300 crore. "The land of the poor and the farmers was sold at Re.1 per metre ... For Re.1, you get a toffee here. There, land was sold at Re.1 per metre," he said.
"(L.K.) Advani and Jaswant Singh have been sidelined and if (Atal Bihari) Vajpayeeji would have been in public life, he would also be facing similar situation."
The Congress vice president accused the BJP of copying the Congress manifesto.
"We visited people across the country and spoke with them to know what they want. On the basis of their demands and concerns, we prepared a manifesto, but all BJP did was to copy ours," said Gandhi.
He added the BJP replaced the picture of 'haath' (hand which is Congress party sign) with that of a 'kamal' (lotus which is the BJP sign) on the manifesto cover.
He added most of the promises made in the BJP's manifesto have already been fulfilled by the Congress.
"They are saying they would provide one rank one pension. However, we have already implemented this scheme... they are saying they would build a manufacturing corridor, we have already started working on this industrial corridor," said Gandhi.
The Congress, he said, wants to give power to common men rather than a handful of industrialists.
Gandhi said: "We have taken 15 crore people out of poverty in the last 10 years."
The Congress is a party for the weak, poor and the farmers, he said.
"There is a difference between us and the opposition. We care about all, they do politics for a select few. They talk about Gujarat development, we talk about poor and downtrodden and giving rights," he added.
Taking a dig at Narendra Modi's comment that "I (Modi) don't want to become prime minister, want to be a chowkidar", Gandhi, without naming anyone, said: "BJP talks about chowkidar (watchman) of tijori (safe). But I have heard that chowkidars also steal. We (the Congress) want to empower all Indians."
As Rahul Gandhi spoke, partymen raised slogans in his support.
"We launched free medicines scheme in the state when we had our government here. Are you getting free medicines now under BJP government?... no ... the BJP only runs government for big industrialists and not for poor or the downtrodden," he added.
"If we come to power, we want to give free medicines and also provide right to shelter to the poor," he said.
State Congress president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot also addressed the rally.
Voting in Karauli-Dholpur and four other constituencies will take place April 24.
SC dismisses review plea by death row convict
New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) The supreme Court Tuesday dismissed a plea by a death row convict Sonu
No Modi wave, only Modi poison, says Jairam Ramesh
Ranchi, April 20 (IANS) There is no Modi wave but only "Modi poison" in India, said union minist
China had gone to reach 10 island countries, did not agree to the agreement; hit hard
China's efforts to unite the 10 island countries of the Pacific Ocean region have suffered a setb
Testing at the airport, 15 labs ready; Government told the plan to deal with monkeypox
Monkeypox has also knocked in the country amid the threat of Corona. So far, 4 cases of monkeypox
Rohit's two double-hundreds inspired me: Gayle
Canberra, Feb 24 (IANS) West Indies opener Chris Gayle, who smashed the first World Cup double-
Singer Sonu Nigam is in the news. He has shared a video and requested some politicians. He said t
Sri Lankan President accorded Ceremonial Reception
New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS) New Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena was accorded a ceremonia
The Election Commission will announce the dates for the assembly elections to be held in the Nort
On Sunday, a big action was taken against Javed Mohammad, the mastermind of the ruckus in Atala i
Perception about Bengal has changed: ITC's Deveshwar
Kolkata, Jan 7 (IANS) Observing that land was an issue faced by the industry across India, ITC
