Graft prospered under Modi in Gujarat: Sonia

"He stalled appointment of a Lokayukta and attempts are on to keep post vacant"

Congress president Sonia Gandhi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday hit back at the BJP, saying corruption prospered in Gujarat under the rule of its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi.

At an election meeting here, she listed the measures taken by the United Progressive Alliance government to root out corruption, and challenged Mr. Modi to do the same about the steps he had taken in Gujarat. There was a vast difference between what he said and practised on the issue, she said.

“I challenge him to prove if he initiated any action in Gujarat to check corruption,” she said.

To end corruption, she said, the UPA empowered the people with the Right to Information Act, but Mr. Modi had done nothing.

She said Ministers neck-deep in corruption were present in his Cabinet. He stalled the appointment of a Lokayukta for 10 years, and attempts were still on to keep the post vacant to conceal corruption.

Ms. Gandhi said the country was at a crossroads, and the people had to decide whether they wanted a bright future or destruction that the BJP would bring about.