"Development" in Gujarat at the cost of farmers: Rahul Gandhi

Yavatmal, Apr 4:

Vice-President

on Friday attacked

's PM nominee

for "snatching" land from farmers for the Nano car factory in Gujarat and generating employment "at the cost" of farmers in the state.

"Modi has snatched 3000 acres of land from farmers for Nano car factory. It is a naked truth that 3000 farmers made to suffer for (creating) 2000 employment opportunities in Gujarat. Modi has given a subsidy of Rs 40,000 to each Nano car...Is it called development?" Rahul said while addressing a rally at postal ground.

He was canvassing for party nominees Shivajirao Moghe and Sanjay Deotale who are in the fray from Yavatmal-Washim and Chandrapur-Arni Lok Sabha seats respectively. Indian Youth Congress president Rajiv Satav, who is believed to be the close confidant of Rahul, is contesting from Hingoli.

However, during his speech Rahul did not mention Satav. Taking a dig at Modi, Rahul said, "the opposition parties wanted to eliminate Congress from Hindustan...they did not read the history of Hindustan".

"Congress is the party of ideology and it speaks about the poor and downtrodden including women and children," he said.

"Any development is possible only if the poor, women and the suppressed class are empowered through sustained development," Rahul said.

He said the Congress-led UPA government at Centre and the Democratic Front government in the state have implemented a number of pro-people measures and would continue their "developmental" tasks if voted to power again.

Rahul said, "If voted to power again for five years, UPA would ensure free medicines, pension, set up 2000 women police stations and (generate) employment opportunities".

Pushing for the cause of women, the Congress vice-president said, "India should become a super power and it is possible only if women in the country are empowered".

PTI