Black money issue a poll stunt: Rahul

Amitabh Shukla

Ajmer (Rajasthan), May 4

The Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today termed BJP as pro-rich and claimed that the saffron party rake up just before elections issues on terrorism and black money -- two fronts, which the Congress general secretary said NDA failed miserably to tackle during its tenure.

"Before the election, they (BJP) started talking about money stashed in Swiss bank accounts. They did not take any step towards when they were in power. Why don't they talk about corruption in the previous government of Rajasthan?" he said addressing an election rally here.

On terrorism, Gandhi lashed out at BJP leader L K Advani for his claim of being a "strong leader" saying, "What kind of a strong leader is he who did not know that terrorists were being released?"

Gandhi was referring to the 1999 IA plane hijacking, during which three dreaded terrorists were freed at Kandahar in Afghanistan.

The Gandhi-scion also said while Congress worked for the poor, BJP was a party for the rich."Congress' thought and concern are for all sections in society -- poor, worker, farmers, backwards, tribals... but for them (BJP) it (their thought) is only for the rich people," he said. Gandhi also charged BJP with trying to hide the real India and showing least concern for the poor and cited the saffron party's India Shining slogan during the 2004 elections to drive home his point.

Gandhi said India was not shining in the homes of poor, backward, tribals, and people living in slums and hamlets. "When we came to power (2004), we promised that ours will be the government of the poor and we did it successfully," the young Congress leader claimed referring to schemes like NREGA and waiver to the farmers.

Quoting former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, a partner of the NDA then, Gandhi said Naidu had viewed "what was the need of the farmer as there were call centers, BPOs and IT industries".

"They eat the food produced by the farmer and talk like this. When we gave a loan waiver, the India Shining people said why are you wasting money?" Gandhi said.

If the Country had to progress, it had to be of all sections and poor are integral part of it, Gandhi said.

"They (BJP) want to divide the country on the basis of the rich and the poor. For Congress, it has to be a inclusive and united march towards progress," he said.

Accusing the saffron party of not talking about fundamental issues like poverty and development, Gandhi said they (BJP) talk of money stashed in Swiss bank accounts and terrorism where they failed miserably during their tenure. —PTI

(2009)