No other PM damaged economy as much as Modi did: Rahul

Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government's decision to implement demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that no other prime minister has damaged the country's economy as much as Prime Minister Narendra Modi did.

Gandhi accused the BJP government in the state for destroying the policies made for the betterment and welfare of tribals. Addressing a rally, he said: "The intention behind the Tribal Rights Act was to protect Adivasi lands, and the Land Acquisition Act was implemented to protect farmers' lands. But the BJP government has destroyed these policies."

Speaking on the issue of demonetisation, Gandhi said: "People were made to stand in long queues outside ATMs during demonetisation. But not one person holding black money had to face this." He further said, "No other prime minister has damaged the economy as much as Narendra Modi did."

While attacking the BJP government for not taking any action against those businessmen who have "fled the country", Gandhi assured that when the Congress comes to power, action against the defaulters and wrongdoers will be taken.

Talking about the development works, Gandhi added that his party will provide better educational facilities at minimum fees. "Top quality school and the university will be opened with minimum fees. For health, top quality for hospitals will be established. The Congress Chief Minister will waive farm loans in 10 days of coming to power," Gandhi said.

Gandhi scion addressed multiple rallies earlier in the day in the poll-bound state. While addressing a rally in Khairagarh, he said that incumbent Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and the Prime Minister failed to provide jobs to the people as per their promise.

"Chief Minister Raman Singh and Prime Minister Modi promised jobs, but today nearly 60,000 teacher posts, 13,000 lecturer posts are vacant and 3000 Aadivasi schools were shut down. We will ensure that the government vacancies are filled up," he added.

Chhattisgarh became witness to an intense political slugfest on Friday ahead of the first phase assembly poll due on November 12. The first phase of elections comprises 18 seats distributed in eight Naxal-affected districts. Of these, 12 are Scheduled Tribe seats while one is a Scheduled Caste-reserved seat.

The polling for remaining 72 seats will take place on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on December 11. A total of 1,291 candidates are in the fray for the two-phased state polls.

In the 2013 assembly elections, the BJP bagged 49 seats, Congress got 39 and the Bahujan Samajwadi Party and Independent got one seat each in the 90-member House.