Amethi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government, saying that it worked only for the sake of capitalists.
Accusing the Centre of double standards on the One-Rank, One-Pension scheme, the Congress leader said,"PM announced Rs 1.65 lakh crore package for poll-bound Bihar but has refused to release Rs 8,000 crore towards OROP for army personnel."
The Congress, he said, could alone protect the interests of the country for which the party needs to be strengthened.
"Narendra Modi government is working only for the sake of capitalists," the Congress Vice President said while interacting with people in Pure Ladai village during a two-day visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, which began today.
Referring to the Centre's Land Acquisition Bill, he alleged that the NDA government wanted to grab the land of the farmers through this legislation "but Congress went hammer and tongs against the measure and opposed it".
At the same time, he said his party could not meet the aspirations of the people to the desired extent as it was not in power at the Centre or Uttar Pradesh.
This was Rahul's first visit to his Lok Sabha constituency after the Monsoon session of Parliament which saw Congress creating a storm over issues like Vyapam, Lalitgate and Land Acquisition Bill.
Rahul, who landed at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport at Lucknow this morning, headed straight to his constituency where he is scheduled to hold interactions with the people to apprise them of Centre's "anti-people" policies.
During his brief stopovers on way to Amethi, he sought to drive home the point that Congress alone could protect the interest of the nation.
"It is your duty to strengthen Congress. The future of the country lies in the hands of Congress," was his refrain at his roadside meetings with locals.
Rahul also went to Dakhin village and interacted with locals.
Rahul's visit is being interpreted as a move to puncture BJP's plans to send it leaders to all the 44 Lok Sabha constituencies held by Congress and blame the party for the washout of the Monsoon session of Parliament.
The Monsoon session witnessed acrimony and disruptions as a result of which legislations, including the crucial GST bill, could not be passed.
During the entire four weeks of the session which began on July 21, the Lalit Modi controversy and Vyapam scam of Madhya Pradesh dominated the House.
Later addressing a rally in Saharasa, the Prime Minister cited latest state government crime figures to argue that Bihar was already hearing the footsteps of 'jungle raaj', a jibe at Kumar's alliance with Lalu Prasad's RJD, whose government in the 90s was criticised for the poor law and order situation.
Between January and June 2015, heinous crimes had risen by 34 per cent and murders by 46 per cent across the state, he said, adding these were signs of 'jungle raaj'. Numbers of riots had increased by 72 per cent, he said.
"Tell me, these are signs of jungle raaj or not. Your life will become difficult or not... You give us power in Patna and we will sort out all your problems," he said.
"Tell me, these are signs of jungle raaj or not. Your life will become difficult or not... You give us power in Patna and we will sort out all your problems," he said.
Lashing out at Kumar, Modi said he has "sat in the lap" of Congress which had jailed Jayaprakash Narayan and called it a "betrayal" with the socialist leader.
"I have announced a Rs 1.25 lakh crore package to change the fate of Bihar, to make a 'naya' Bihar. I assure you that I will change the face of Bihar," he told a rally as he sought their votes for the BJP-led NDA.
Talking of Kumar's decision to split with BJP in 2013, which Modi dubbed as a betrayal with the saffron party and the people of Bihar, the Prime Minister said he ran to the then UPA government offering his support to it if the state was given a package.
"He got Rs 12,000 crore and began dancing over it. This package played with the self-respect of Bihar... The total package I have given is Rs 1.65 lakh crore," Modi said, underlining that the Rs 1.25 cr package was in addition to several projects worth Rs 40000 cr announced earlier.
The Prime Minister also made a mention of 2008 Kosi floods, which had badly hit the region, and targeted Kumar for returning Rs 5 cr cheque sent to Bihar by him as the then Gujarat Chief Minister.
"Is this behaviour appropriate in public life? People in the Kosi region may die but I will not leave my arrogance. Those who cannot leave their arrogance should be left or not?," he said, without naming the chief minister.
Kumar had returned the cheque after Modi put out advertisements in Bihar newspapers about it, which he saw as an attempt by the BJP leader to build his political capital.
This was Modi's third rally in Bihar and first in the Mithila region, which the NDA had swept in the Lok Sabha polls.
