Rahul Gandhi exhorts people to go for a change

Surat, Dec 9 (UNI) Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi exhorted the voters of Gujarat to elect a government that would work for the welfare of the people even as campaigning for the first phase of the high-profile elections ended today.

''After the elections, we will give you a government that will strive for the uplift of all sections of the people'', Mr Gandhi, who was here for a Road show, said.

Painting a rather dismal picture of the state of affairs under the Narendra Modi Government, Mr Gandhi said it had not done much for the Adivasis and tribals and disputed Mr Modi's claims of providing land to them. ''Nothing had been done for farmers nor had the government undertaken any concrete steps for wiping out illiteracy as 30 per cent of the state's population was illiterate'', he claimed.

Taking up cudgels on behalf of the farmers, he said they were not being provided 24 hours electricity. ''Even today, they are provided electricity for less than six hours and its rates have been hiked considerably by the state government'', Mr Gandhi said as thousands of Congress workers joined the road show, which was organised in support of party candidates contesting from south Gujarat.

Without naming Mr Modi, he said it was ironic that in Mahatma Gandhi's home state, governance was based on lies. ''Gandhiji has taught us to follow truth and fight against injustice. The government in Gujarat thinks that if they scream aloud a lie, people will believe that it is the truth,'' he said.

Mr Gandhi said at least five other states were ahead of Gujarat in respect of attracting investments.

He lauded the people of the state for their grit and determination who had succeeded in the field of textiles, diamond works and several other businesses.

Mr Gandhi said diamond cutters in Surat were famous all over the world and had made a mark for themselves with their expertise.

UNI