Narendra Modi
Launching a scathing attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday claimed that farmers of the country would not have been “ruined” had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been the first prime minister.
Accusing the Congress of “making false promises”, PM Modi asked the party to explain whether late Indira Gandhi’s “Garibi Hatao” (remove poverty) slogan a was a “lie” or not.
PM Modi’s remark was targeted at Rahul Gandhi who had accused the BJP of “making false promises” to people during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Modi also referred to a video clip purportedly showing Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath, saying the Congress leader seeking votes only from a “particular community” was an insult to democracy.
A video clip surfaced last week, purportedly showing Nath telling Muslim leaders to ensure “90 per cent voting” in Muslim-dominated areas.
Modi also ridiculed “namdaar” Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress chief was not being taken seriously by his own party.
“Farmers are suffering due to the wrong policies of the Congress governments...the result is that farmers are suffering...now, they (the Congress) are defaming us.
“But the farmers would not have been ruined during the Congress’s 55-year-rule had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been the country’s first prime minister,” he said.
The government “remote-controlled by Madam” gave loans to farmers at an interest rate of 15-16 per cent, while the BJP government was giving them interest-free loans, Modi said, in a veiled swipe at UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Mandsaur had witnessed intense farmers’ protests last year, leading to the death of six protesters in police firing.
(With PTI inputs)
