The BJP’s prime-ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Monday said the “lack of vision” of both the UPA government at the Centre and the Congress-led government in Rajasthan had brought development to a standstill, and the challenges before the economy and the flawed policies of the governments had made the life of the common man excruciating.
Addressing a series of election rallies in four towns on the second day of his visit to the State, Mr. Modi said the economy was in shambles because of the Centre’s “policy paralysis”, resulting in constant decline in the value of the rupee, diminishing exports, destruction of livelihoods and deterioration in the quality of life.
“I wonder on what basis the Congress is asking people to vote for it. Has the party done something good for people? The higher judiciary has asked the Rajasthan government to take rest if it cannot rule,” Mr. Modi said in Khetri town of Jhunjhunu district, famous for its public sector copper plant.
Besides Khetri, Mr. Modi addressed rallies in Pilibanga, Sriganganagar and Bikaner on the day when Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was also in the State to address election meetings at Pushkar and Jodhpur.
The Gujarat Chief Minister said the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan had done nothing for promoting agriculture, or the manufacturing and service sectors which were crucial for the growth of economy.
“Despite this, Mr. Gehlot says that it is Rajasthan, not Gujarat, which should be treated as the development model. Isn’t it strange?”
Mr. Modi said the State’s growth rate, which was nine per cent during the Vasundhara Raje regime, had reduced to less than five per cent. Similarly, the agriculture development rate had declined from 4 per cent earlier to 2.5 per cent in the Gehlot regime, he added.
‘Broken promise’
Calling upon the people to reject the Congress in the upcoming Assembly elections through their “decisive verdict”, Mr. Modi said the Congress had broken its promise of providing more facilities to farmers and was instead concentrating on export of meat.
“When financial benefits may be extended to agriculturists by exporting cotton, the government is promoting the export of meat. For this, cows are being killed,” he said.
