Economy not to take off if poor in villages don't have toothpaste, soap, shampoo: Rahul

The economy will not take off if the poor people in villages cannot afford toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and new shirts, said Congress president Rahul Gandhi here while addressing an election rally.

In the same vein, he said that the villagers should also have Bolero cars, an observation made in an apparent reference to the affluence of urban rich who own all types of cars.

"Unless there is money in the villages, unless you see Bolero in the villages, unless toothpaste, soap, shampoo, new shirts are seen in the houses of poor people in the villages, the engine of the economy of India will not set in motion," said Rahul.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul said that the current Central regime had ruined the economy by doing away with MGNREGA scheme that was the source of income for the poor in villages.

"Prime Minister Modi never understood MGNREGA, which even a school going child understands. It was not all about digging pits. It gave employment to crores of people and money came into their pockets. With that money they used to buy several products for themselves," he said.

Criticising Prime Minister Modi for his demonetization decision, Rahul told the gathering: "Your money was taken from you and deposited in the banks. It was given to Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Lalit Modi and others."

"The government withdrew every penny from the system. The small shopkeepers stop buying products and thus factories were shut and unemployment crept in. Those who were employed were rendered unemployed," he said.

"Today, unemployment is the highest in the last 45 years," he said, adding that Prime Minister Modi was creating two types of Hindustan--one of big cars, aeroplane and rich people, while the other of poor, farmers, and unemployed people.

The 17th Lok Sabha election will be held in seven phases beginning April 11. The final phase of voting will take place on May 19. The counting of votes will be done on May 23.