Janjgir (Chhattisgarh): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring the poor and the tribals, saying that although the government speaks of bullet trains, "only people with suit-boot" can enter these trains, not the farmers and the underprivileged.
He also charged that the BJP governments at the Centre and in Chhattisgarh were acquiring land in the name of development, which has not reached the doorsteps of the poor and the tribals.
"We do not want such development," he said, asserting that he will not allow such kind of development to take place.
Attacking the prime minister, Gandhi said he only visits tribal and poor areas during elections to seek votes in the name of development.
"I can write it down, he (Modi) will not come here before elections. When he comes, he will say 'we have brought good days. We can bring more good days so vote for us again'," Gandhi said addressing a rally here.
The Congress Vice President said Modi, "who wears a Rs 15 lakh suit," prefers to go to Australia and the US.
"If Modiji takes off his Rs 15 lakh suit and comes here to these villages, he will see the value of MNREGA," he said.
He further charged that the Prime Minister repeatedly talks of 'acche din' and 'vikas' (development), but not of the poor. "I don't understand what kind of development is this," said Gandhi.
"They want your land and promise you development. They snatch the land of the poor, the farmer and the tribals, but not the rich... They claim they will give employment and development in return of land. Not even a single man or woman I spoke with said they got job," charged Gandhi.
He said while the government talks of bullet trains, it has ignored the interests of the poor.
"The train will travel at 400-kmph. You will see it but can't board it. Only people with suit-boot can enter the train. Farmers and the poor cannot enter without wearing suit and tie," he said.
Gandhi claimed that what Modi was doing at the national level, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh was doing at the state level.
Expressing concern over the land of the tribals being used for mining, he said they have no future without the jungle. "It is our duty to protect the land. We will stand by them," said Gandhi.
