Congress is the cause of poverty, Rahul Gandhi can not end it, claims Gadkari

Union Minister Gadkari says during the Congress regime, there was no “serious policy” to develop agriculture and villages

BJP leader Nitin Gadkari addressing an election campaign. File

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said the Congress was the cause of poverty in the country and claimed that there was no “serious policy” earlier to develop agriculture and villages.

Addressing an election campaign at Multai in Madhya Pradesh, he asked when former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi were unable to end poverty, then how would the current Congress president Rahul Gandhi be able to do so.

“There is poverty in our country because of the Congress. Our nation is rich, but people are poor as no serious policy was made for the development of agriculture and villages; this resulted in wheat getting cheaper, but biscuit costly, fruits cheaper and juice costly,” Mr. Gadkari said.

He alleged that under the Congress rule, the poor became poorer while sycophants of the party managed to get rid of their own poverty.

Mr. Gadkari alleged that the Congress indulged in communalism, casteism and politics of fear but the BJP wanted to finish the two [casteism and communalism].

The Union Minister said despite the BJP-led government making a ₹10,000 crore Buddha Circuit road, the Congress was terming his party “anti-Buddha”. Multai is part of Betul (ST) Lok Sabha seat where BJP’s Durgadas Uikey is pitted against the Congress’ Ramu Tekam.

Mr. Gadkari also addressed a rally at Aathner in Betul later in the day.