Adityanath questions Rahul's minimum income poll promise

Targeting Congress president Rahul Gandhi's Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY), Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday questioned if India's grand old party had done anything for the poor when in power at the Centre for 10 years.

"Congress president Rahul Gandhi said they will give Rs 72,000 per year to the people. I ask him--you were in power at the Centre for 10 years from 2004 to 2014. Why didn't you do any work for the poor during that time," he asked, while addressing an election rally.

"PM Awas Yojana, Saubhagya Yojana, PM Kisan Sammman Nidhi, Start-Up India, Ayushman Bharat, PM Mudra, and so on. Why did all these things come after Modi ji became Prime Minister? These all works had not been done because the Congress was insensitive towards the poor," he said.

Rahul on Monday announced to implement NYAY, under which 20 per cent of the poorest families of the country will be entitled to up to Rs 72,000 per year.

Adityanath hit also out at the parties questioning air strikes by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at terrorists' camps in Pakistan's Balakot.

"Pakistan cut heads of our soldiers, they did not do anything. After Pulwama, PM Modi said that sacrifices of jawans will not go in vain. You have seen that through air strike terrorist camps were destroyed. PM Modi did what he said," said Adityanath.

He also accused Congress, SP, and BSP making statements to de-motivate the jawans. "They are giving statements that are making Pakistan happy. These elections are about unmasking those people who are insulting our forces and encouraging terrorism," he said.

The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held from April 11 and will go on till May 19 in seven phases. The polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held in all seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.