LUCKNOW: Congress president Rahul Gandhi kick started his two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency on an attacking note on Wednesday by holding PM Narendra Modi, BJP and RSS responsible for 'nation's plight'.
The Congress chief, on one hand, accused the RSS of dividing the country on communal lines, on the other charged the BJP with working under PM Modi for the cause of industrialists and corporate.
While addressing Congress workers at Fursatganj Guest House in Raebareli while on way to Amethi, Gandhi held PM Modi-led government responsible for pushing the country backward in terms of development.
"Today India is faced with three big challenges - unemployment, plight of farmers and the price rise," said Gandhi. Accusing PM Modi of handing over entire nation's wealth to a counted 5-10 business honchos, Rahul Gandhi said that the government had been working at the cross purpose of small and medium industrialists.
"He has destroyed small traders. The money collected through GST implementation and demonetisation has been handed over to PM's few favourite businessmen like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi," said Gandhi.The Congress chief claimed that the Centre did not waive off a single penny of the farmers last year. "Rather the PM waived off Rs 2 lakh crore debt of 15 business tycoons by snatching money from small traders and common people," he said adding that PM Modi had finished the farmers and the business community.
Coming down heavily on RSS, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Sangh Pariwar worked on religious and caste lines while Congress party talked of integrating the society living up to its legacy of peace and love.
"We talk of affection, and harmony. But RSS sees everyone through the prism of religion, caste, and creed," he said adding that the saffron outfit spread hatred and divided the society on several lines. Taking a pot shot at the foreign policy and India's diplomatic ties with neighbours, the Congress chief reminded the gathering of Congressmen that after US and China, India is the third largest power in the world.
"We have to make India superpower," he asserted.On ties with China, the Congress chief claimed that while PM Modi was trying to keep the Chinese premier in good humour through extending him hospitality in Gujarat, the Chinese army was busy intruding Indian territory in Dokhlam and Laddakh. "Even during his own visit to China, the PM did not utter a single word over Dokhlam crisis," he averred.
Taking a jibe on deliverance of development promises, Rahul referred to bullet train being manufactured in Gujarat as magic rain which would never be a reality. "It should not be called a bullet train. It should be referred to as a magic train. It will never be constructed, if at all it is ever made, it would be in Congress regime," said the Congress President.
During the interaction, the Congress chief exhorted the party workers to strengthen the party organisation in state.
He also launched 'Project Shakti' through which party workers would be able to reach out to high command directly. All the Congressmen would be given an identity number to operate through Project Shakti.
Winding up the meeting at Fursatganj guest house, the Congress chief went to village Jais to meet the family of farmer Abdul Sattar who died at a wheat procurement centre while selling off his produce in May after braving the scorching sun for four days continuously.