Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Indian National Congress during his rally at Gujarat's Rajkot and said that it is Congress' tendency to pit one caste against another.
Modi also said that the grand old party dislikes him because of his poor origins and that it has defamed Gujarat always.
"Can a party stoop so low? Yes, a person belonging to a poor family has become PM. They do not fail to hide their contempt for this fact. Yes, I sold tea but I did not sell the nation", said Modi.
Prime Minister Modi, who is on a three-day visit to his home state said that the Congress tried to dislodge Keshubhai Patel, 'a son of Saurashtra', when he became the Chief Minister. They tried the same distruptive tactic with Anandiben Patel, added Modi.
"The solution to all problems is development. Development has to be continuous. We want to work even more for the people of Gujarat. I request the Congress not to mock the poor and my poor origins."
Expressing his love for Gujarat, the Prime Minister said, "Ye maati meri maa hai zindagi laga doonga iska karz chukane mein."
Modi further criticised Congress and said that "It was with the support of the Jan Sangh that a person from the Patel Community, Babubhai Patel became CM. Congress did not like this and ensured that Babubhai Jashbhai's government did not last".
There was a person who led a life of discipline on Mahatma Gandhi's ideals, a disciplined & hard working son of the soil just like Sardar Patel but he had the same 'flaw' of being a Gujrati, so he was not allowed to stay in national politics by them (Cong): PM Modi
Aam Aadmi Party also received a jibe from the former Gujarat Chief Minister. Modi alleged that "a new party came up in Delhi, whose style is to keep abusing & running away. I thought Congress, being an older party would not indulge in such politics but they have also taken this short cut in the past two months and only hurled abuses and lies".
The Prime Minister is expected to attend at least 20 public meetings and rallies in the next 15 days ahead of the Gujarat assembly polls to be held on December 9 and 14.
(with ANI inputs)