Charging that the BJP’s intentions were not clean, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the party, if voted to power, intended to abolish the welfare schemes introduced by the UPA government.
“I have information that they intend to abolish the legislation on food security and employment guarantee,” Mr. Gandhi said addressing a rally in his constituency, Amethi.
Resuming his attack on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Mr. Gandhi said the Gujarat Chief Minister’s development model was limited to one or two industrialists, in a reference to Mr. Modi’s proximity to corporate giant Adani.
While Mr. Modi in a rally in Badohi flayed the Congress for neglecting the interests of farmers, Mr. Gandhi said farmers in Gujarat were being deprived of their land and compelled to flee to other States.
“Modi didn't ask the farmers even once before giving away their land to Adani. Some of the farmers met me and narrated their woes. We fought for Bhatta Parsaul, which led to the enactment of the land acquisition law,” he said.
Elaborating on the welfare steps taken by the UPA regime, Mr. Gandhi said his government had waived Rs 70,000 crore in farmers’ loans even as Mr. Modi distributed land worth Rs 40,000 crore to Adani.
Mr. Gandhi who held a roadshow in his constituency with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has been actively campaigning for him, also tried to strike a chord with women.
While raking up ‘snoopgate,’ Mr. Gandhi flayed Mr. Modi for his double standards on women. Even as the police in Gujarat tap phones of women and harass them, Mr. Modi spoke about empowering women, Mr. Gandhi said. “He should learn to respect women.”
Published - May 04, 2014 05:33 pm IST
