LIVE: Bring Congress to Punjab to stop drug smuggling, says Rahul in Bhatinda rally

New Delhi: Amid the bitter war of words between Congress and BJP, Rahul Gandhi today accused Narendra Modi of being discourteous to his opponents, adopting double standards on corruption and favouring select industrialists.Rahul also said that the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate seeks to give an impression that development of Gujarat was his “personal” achievement and seems oblivious to the efforts of millions of people, including women who made the Amul brand a success.“You listen to his speech (Modi), You listen to mine. You (Punjab) gave us Prime Minister. You see his (PM) speeches during the last 10 years, Sonia's (Gandhi) speeches, Congress leaders speeches, all talk with love and respect. “Even if we talk about them, (opponent), we talk with love and respect. We never use harsh words and angry tone. But wherever they (opponents) go, they cannot speak any good, nor they can do any good for others,” he said addressing a rally in favour of Congress candidate Manpreet Singh Badal. Manpreet, estranged nephew of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, is locked in a battle against his sister-in-law and sitting SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Manpreet, who is heading Peoples' Party of Punjab, is contesting the elections on a Congress symbol with CPI backing. Keeping Modi at the centre of his attack, Rahul the BJP tries to portray as if nothing was happening in Gujarat for the last 60 years.“Gujaratis built it (the state). Women of Gujarat gave Amul brand....Gujaratis and Punjabis are known for their hardwork...But (according to opponents) you did nothing. For the last 60 years, people of India did nothing,” Rahul said. “Now Modi is coming and he says he will do everything, he has built Gujarat and now he says he will build country.He (Modi) boasts before thousands of people that I built Gujarat. He does not feel the need to ask anybody as if he has all the knowledge,” he said.Hitting out at BJP, Rahul said they gave India shining slogan in 2004 without realising that a large section of people including farmers, labourers and other weaker sections were not benefited.Just two-three industrialists were benefited (under NDA regime) which they called India Shining. Big government owned companies worth thousands of crore were gifted. Balco, a government owned company was given to a friend of late union minister and BJP leader Pramod Mahajan,” Rahul alleged. Several other government companies were also given away, he alleged.Accusing Modi of doling out favours to select corporates, Rahul alleged that he handed over 45,000 ares of land to Adani group at a rate of Rs 1 per meter.“45,000 acres of land was given to one businessman whereas the farmers whose land was acquired are now working under NREGA scheme. This kind of toffee is being sold to you (farmers),” he alleged.Tearing apart Modi's much-touted Gujarat model, he said financial benefit to the tune of Rs 26,000 crore as power waiver was given to an industrialist. A total benefit of Rs 35,000 crore was handed over to Adani, he alleged. Referring to the financial benefit given to Adani, he said, “Take this, and enjoy.”He also accused Modi of giving away Rs 10,000 crore of loan to Tata at a rate of 0.1 per cent for 25 years and said in contrast, the total budget allocation for education and health was just Rs 8,000 crore in Gujarat. “There is one Nano company to whom they gave Rs 10,000 crore of loan at a rate of 0.1 per cent for 25 years. It is Tata whereas farmers are getting loan at rate between 12 and 14 per cent,” he alleged.However, he praised Tata for “doing good work.” “I dont say that you do not help them or other industrialists. I am saying why you are helping only one company,” he said.Rahul said the Centre allocated Rs 30,000 crore per annum udner UPA's flagship NREGA scheme.However, an amount equivalent to this scheme was doled out to Adani, he charged. “Their only agenda is to see that only a limited number of people in this country should prosper whereas Congress wants inclusive and all round progress in which poor man's son runs business, farmer's child flies planes and leads a happy life”, he said.“We want such a country where everyone dreams big and not only five or ten people including Adani,” he said.Here are the live updates on Rahul Gandhi's speech in Bhatinda:12:19 pm: Rahul ends his speech12:18 pm: Rahul: We have the nation's interest in mind. Manpreet will help you in everyway possible. Please vote for Congress to form a government in Punjab this time. 12:16: pm: Rahul: We have taken out over 15 crore people out of poverty. 15 crore is not a small amount. We have provided them with a base through RTI, Food security bill, etc. Now we have formed another class that is between poor and middle class. We will open schools and colleges for them. By handing over property to few industrialists is not going to improve the nation's condition. 12:15 pm: Rahul: But we know that if we are here it is because of you. That is why we pay you utmost respect. 12:12 pm: Rahul: You have heard my speeches and Soniaji's speeches. Compare our speeches to theirs. We speak politely. Even we talk about him but we don't use foul language. Just look at the crude manner they speak in. You all have been working so hard for the past 60 years. But Modi says that you haven't done anything. Farmers exhaust themselves working hard in the fields but Modi says that nothing has been done. He knows everything. He doesn't need anyone. He developed Gujarat, he knows what America is going to do and he knows about China and Pakistan too. He doesn't need anyone. 12:09 pm: Punjab suffers from drug issues. BJP says that's not our problem. Drugs are smuggled in from Pakistan. I tell you that if Congress comes to power in Punjab then we will ensure that no drugs are smuggled in, no matter from where they come. 12:07 pm: Rahul: BJP workers beat women in Mangalore. Many women went missing in Chhattisgarh and BJP says they don't know where those women are. The man who says that I will empower women taps phone of a woman 12:05 pm: Rahul: Thousands of Sikhs were thrown out of Gujarat. Congress workers are fighting for them there. Now Akali Dal is in Punjab and BJP in Gujarat. They walk hand in hand. Then how did this transpire? 12:02 pm: Rahul: When I was in Gujarat, some people from Punjab came up to me. They asked me – “Rahul tell us something? We had moved to India from Pakistan after independence. Indian government gave us some land in Gujarat. Recently some officers came to us and told us to leave. They said that we are outsiders. Don't we belong to India?”12:00: Rahul Gandhi begins his speech.

LIVE: Bring Congress to Punjab to stop drug smuggling, says Rahul in Bhatinda rally

New Delhi: Amid the bitter war of words between Congress and BJP, Rahul Gandhi today accused Narendra Modi of being discourteous to his opponents, adopting double standards on corruption and favouring select industrialists.Rahul also said

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