Rahul takes on Modi in Gujarat, says BJP leader represents RSS ideology that killed Mahatma Gandhi
Bardoli (Gujarat): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a blistering attack on Narendra Modi, slamming him for his roots in RSS 'whose ideology killed Mahatma Gandhi' and debunking his claims of development in Gujarat.
Congress's chief campaigner for Lok Sabha elections also accused Modi, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, of 'empowering himself' and his disregard for transparency in governance.
"He (Modi) has spent his entire life in RSS and has nothing to do with the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. Its (RSS') ideology killed the Mahatma and Patel proposed to ban it after that," Rahul said addressing a rally here.
Targeting Modi over his alleged attempts to 'appropriate' Patel's legacy by constructing the 'Statue of Unity' of India's first Home Minister, billed to be the world's tallest, he said, "Patel had called RSS a poisonous ideology which will destroy India's soul. Patel devoted his life to Congress and the poor."
"They (BJP leaders) don't even think about what Patel's ideology was. Never read about him. Never try to understand him and now they want to build his statue," he said.
Patel had successfully led Bardoli Satyagrah in 1928 against 30 per cent increase in taxes on farmers of the region ravaged by drought.
Rahul, apparently seeking to contain an adverse political fallout of senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's 'chai wala' jibe against Modi, said all people should be respected but attacked the Gujarat Chief Minister for repeated reference to his humble origin.
"The whole country does something or the other. People are involved in various professions. Some make tea, others drive taxi, some are engaged in farming. We have to respect all of them. We have to respect the tea vendor, the labourer and the farmer. But those who make 'ullu' (fool) of others, should not be respected," Gandhi said.
Taking on Modi over Gujarat model of development, which he is showcasing in his prime ministerial bid, and corruption, Rahul said," BJP leaders tour the country and say corruption is here and corruption is there. But, they can't see it here. Can't they see the corruption in Gujarat?"
"How many convicted ministers are there in Gujarat?" he asked the crowd, which shouted 'three'.
The Congress vice president said UPA brought RTI and Lokpal to root out corruption and accused BJP of not cooperating with the government for passage of six anti-graft legislations.
"Six anti-corruption bills are pending to be passed in Parliament. But these six bills are not being passed. Three to four times I have told them if you are really against corruption, pass these bills just like you passed the Lokpal bill. Congress party wants to pass these bills but why are you running away? Talk to us on these bills," he said.
"For nine years attempts were made to stall the appointment of Lokayukta. Rs 40 crore was wasted (in fighting cases)," he said, apparently referring to the prolonged stand-off between Modi and Governor Kamla Beniwal over the choice of citizen's ombudsman and the resultant legal tussle.
"We brought the RTI but how many information commissioners are there in Gujarat? Just one, and that too following a court directive," he said.
The Congress leader referred to the Rs 70,000 crore farm loan waiver by the UPA government to attack Modi under whom, he alleged, 6000 farmers had committed suicide in Gujarat.
"While we talk of eradicating poverty, they are eliminating the poor," he said, taking a dig at Modi.
"44,000 Sikh farmers in Gujarat face the threat of being dispossessed of their land and their representatives met me crying. Why their (BJP's) ally Shiromani Akali Dal is saying nothing," he asked.
The Congress leader also attacked Gujarat government for its recent circular marking poverty line at Rs 10-11 per day.
"Congress pulled out 14 crore people from poverty which is unprecedented in history. Here they have fixed an income of Rs 10-11 per day to define poverty. 38 lakh families here are living Below Poverty Line and yet they say Gujarat is shining," he said.
Rahul said, "The government of rich is running, aeroplanes are flying, farmers are starving to death, and big speeches are being made. Big talks are going on about the Gujarat model."
He said over 13,000 government schools had shut down and 55,000 small businesses closed.
"The government of Gujarat is for the rich and not the poor. We want to empower the masses while here only one individual is empowered. The government is run by 5-6 people. That's the difference between us and them," he said.
About the much-publicised Rs 55,000 crore 'Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana', a state government scheme for tribals, the Congress leader said, the money had not yet reached the targeted beneficiaries.
"Have you seen a single rupee of the Rs 55,000 crore?" he asked the crowd, which responded with a loud 'No!'
He also flayed Modi for claiming credit for Gujarat's development. "The development of Gujarat is because of the sweat of its people and not on account of an individual who is taking the credit," he said.
Earlier in the day, Congress vice president marched with party workers for about five kilometres as part of 'Vikas Khoj Yatra', aimed at ascertaining the 'reality' of claims of progress in Gujarat under Modi.
Rahul was greeted by commoners and Congress workers who lined the road before he visited 'Swaraj Ashram', closely associated with Sardar Patel.
The 'Vikas Khoj Yatra' was launched by the Gujarat unit of Youth Congress from Ahmedabad on January 18. It will see Congress workers march 500 km on foot across nine Lok Sabha constituencies over 23 days.
