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'When we talk about works done for poor, BJP becomes silent'

Last updated on: November 25, 2013 22:17 IST

All India Congress Committee Vice-president Rahul Gandhi not only claimed that they make rights for every caste and religion unlike the Bharatiya Janata Party but also challenged BJP to talk about works done for the poor.

Rahul Gandhi, who addressed rallies in Pushkar and Jodhpur, compared work carried out by Congress’s Ashok Gehlot and BJP’s Vasundhara Raje in their five-year tenure.   

“They talk about development but we have done more than them. Roads were made three times more during UPA rule. 60,000 mega watt of power was generated during Congress’s rule compared to Vashundhara Raje’s 15,000 mega watt during her tenure.

Because of our power generations, today she talks that she will give 24 hours power supply,” he said at Pushkar.

At Jodhpur, the Gandhi scion said that IIT, NIFT and AIIMs were established only in Jodhpur in last five years.

“There is difference in thinking, which is the biggest difference between us. They talk about infrastructure, we also accept it, but when we talk about pro-poor work, they become silent. I tell them to talk about it,” challenged the Congress national vice president.

“We talk about the future of poor. Poor also understand it better, because they know that we talk what they feel in their heart. Whether we win or lose, we will keep striving for the poor,” he said.

“We talk about Right to Information, right to education, right to job and food. We give you rights and we do not make rights for any caste and religion, but for all,” Rahul Gandhi said.

The Congress vice president also raised the issue of tainted MPs and MLAs. “Recently one person had filed an application under Right to Information and asked what I had written to Manmohan Singh. The person got a copy of the letter. It was possible because of rights common men have from RTI.”

In both the rallies the Amethi MP did not fail to mention the remark by Vashundhara Raje on free medicines. “Free medicines benefit lakhs of poor everyday but BJP leaders say it is poisonous.”

Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union Minister CP Joshi and Sachin Pilot in Pushkar and Jodhpur.

Ashok Gehlot said that calling free medicine poisonous and welfare schemes as rewdi (freebies) by opposition is an insult to the common man. “It is an insult to you people and you should understand what their thinking is?”

“But we have given a sensitive, transparent and accountable government,” added Gehlot.

Photographs: Chandra Mohan Aloria

Shahnawaz Akhtar in Pushkar