TNN, Satna :
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, on Friday blasted BJP’s PM-in-waiting in his first campaign blitz in Madhya Pradesh picking on Modi’s ‘chowkidar’ remark in Jammu. Addressing a rally in Satna, Rahul said Modi’s statement again exposes the dictatorial streak running in BJP.
“They think of rule by one man, while we want to empower everyone. We want millions of chowkidars to safeguard the country. That’s the difference between us and them,” he said. Rahul was campaigning in Satna for Congress candidate Ajay Singh, former leader of Opposition in the state.
Continuing his tirade against Modi, he raised questions on the Gujarat model of governance, saying the situation on the ground in Modi’s state was pathetic. “India Shining and Gujarat model is the same thing. It’s a government of a few,” he said.
Taking the wind out of Modi’s anti-graft plank, he said “We brought RTI to root out corruption, but this right to information is being muzzled in Gujarat. The Lokayukta had to be appointed on the high court’s intervention. We use the word ‘Right’ in all our plans. Right means a guarantee for all Indians.”
Taking on state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, he said, “This CM will not talk about corruption even as coffers are being looted by partymen.”
Speaking about UPA’s development thrust, Rahul said in the last decade, 15 crore people had been lifted out of poverty. “That’s no small number. When we bring right to food, they called it populism. We send thousands of crores to this state and the MP government does not give you anything. In UPA-3, I tell you what we will do. We will bring the right to health. Hospital doors will open for the poor and they will not spend all money on medicines. We will also give you the right of a roof over your head.”
