On Amethi's whirlwind tour, Rahul attacks BJP, Modi

The Congress vice-president said he respected women a lot and realised that they played an important role in the working of the country and had, therefore, created opportunities for 12 lakh of them by connecting them with banks.  “Modi talks about giving power to women. I want to tell him that women of India are not weak. They are internally strong. Modi should learn to respect women,” he said.

In an apparent reference to the snoopgate row, Gandhi alleged policemen in Gujarat used to tap phones of women and harassed them.

The Congress vice-president said Modi talks about the Gujarat model where budget for education and health is Rs 8,000 crore but despite this, the facilities are very poor.  Training his guns on Modi, he said the BJP prime ministerial candidate talks about the entire country but in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena and BJP people assault those from Uttar Pradesh and force them to leave.

Gandhi said his party stands for politics of uniting people while “others create differences between Hindus and Muslims”.

“We want a country where no one remains hungry, every person has a roof of his own. A place where free treatment facility is available and there is a smile on the face of a poor person. If the Congress comes to power, we will do all this,” he said.

Talking about his emotional connect with Amethi, Gandhi said “I came here with my father Rajiv Gandhiji at the age of 12. At that time there were no roads, power, drinking water, industries and school. I have not come here with political intention, I have a homely relation. Our relationship is that of heart which opposition parties cannot digest.”

“Rajivji framed farsighted development schemes as a result Amethi has changed today. Those, who are opposing me me, Soniaji and Priyankaji, are those who used to oppose Rajivji as well. Some people have come here with the intention to separate us,” he said.