Cong politics centred around a family; BJP for development: PM

Bilaspur: In a no-holds-barred attack on the Congress, its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said the party’s “politics begins and ends with one family”.

Addressing a poll rally here ahead of the second phase polling in the state on November 20, Modi also made a strong pitch for development, saying its pace under the Congress’ watch was “far slow” than that during the BJP’s rule.

Singling out the Gandhis, Modi said the “mother-son duo were out on bail” and hit out at them for questioning the government’s demonetisation move. Without naming the Gandhis, he said “they should not forget” that it was due to the note ban move that they “had to seek bail”.

Attacking the Congress on the issue of corruption, Modi also referred to then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s remark in 1985 that only 15 paise of every rupee meant for the welfare of the downtrodden reached them.

Which “hand” (election symbol of the Congress) had syphoned off the remaining 85 paise, Modi asked.

Congress never got a leadership which worked with a resolution of “living or dying for the welfare of the nation”, Modi he told the gathering.