Valsad, Oct 13 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister YogiAdityanath today tore into Rahul Gandhi, dubbing him and theCongress "anti-development" and supporters of "destruction".
Adityanath also hailed the Gujarat model of development,which is often mocked by the Congress vice president.
Participating in the 'Gujarat Gaurav Yatra' in Valsaddistrict, the saffron leader alleged that the Congress partyhas "insulted" Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, the two tallleaders from Gujarat.
"He is not a supporter of development, but a supporter ofdestruction. Rahul Gandhi has supported Ishrat Jahan, aterrorist who was killed by security forces here (in 2004),"Adityanath told a rally during the yatra.
Gandhi, at his recent rallies in the poll-bound Gujarat,had often targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over theGujarat model of development. Modi often refers to the modelas a benchmark of development.
Targeting the Congress, Adityanath said the party isa "symbol" as well as the "messiah" of destruction.
The BJP leader claimed that Amethi, the Lok Sabhaconstituency of Rahul Gandhi, has not seen any developmentover a long period.
"In the last 14 years, being an MP from Uttar Pradesh,he has not even built an office of the district collector.
What can you expect from such a person for development ofGujarat?" he said.
He said the scourge of naxalism, terrorism and corruptionare "gifts" of the Congress to the nation.
Adityanath also questioned the "absence" of the Congressvice president when Gujarat battled floods this year.
"When Saurashtra was flooded, you went to Italy. PrimeMinister Narendra Modi comes here, Amitbhai Shah (BJPpresident) comes here, but you cannot visit people at thattime," he said.
Hailing Modi, he said the prime minister has turneddevelopment into a movement of people and that the country ison the path of rapid progress.
Uttar Pradesh has adopted the Gujarat model ofdevelopment and is implementing many schemes, he said.
The UP chief minister addressed a number of gatheringsin south Gujarat today.
Adityanath was shown black flags by a group of Congresssupporters in Valsad city's Dharampur road. Three of them weredetained by the police and later released, officials said.
The Election Commission yesterday announced that Gujaratwill go to polls before December 18. PTI Corr PD NSKSK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.