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Modi marks I-Day with veiled attack on Rahul Gandhi

In a veiled attack on Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that it is a shame that political leaders still visit homes of the poor for a photo-op.

Modi also held the Congress responsible for the rampant poverty in the country during his Independence Day address on Monday.

'They should die of shame'

"In this country, even today, there exist people who feel happy to have a photo-op with the poor. They feel proud to get their pictures clicked with poor children in their hands," Modi said in his address.

"They should die of shame as even after over 50 years of their rule in the country, so many people are living below the poverty line. These are monuments of your rule. This is  our shame. They are even ready to capitalise on this," said Modi.

Modi also attacked the Union government for using constitutional bodies to "insult Gujarat".

'Double standards of Delhi's Congress government'

On Sunday, Modi had criticised the Union government for adopting double standards with regard to the fight against corruption led by social activist Anna Hazare.

"Look at the double standards of Delhi's Congress government, open your eyes to the larger conspiracy," he had said on the micro-blogging networking site Twitter on Sunday.

"PM tells Anna (Hazare) to go to the police for any complaint. Disciplined behaviour is expected from Anna while to the officers of Gujarat police, who are indulging in indiscipline, the message of the Congress government is 'do not worry we will protect you'," Modi tweeted.