Rahul Gandhi is an anti-progress leader who mocks development: Smriti Irani

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Monday said that the recent utterances of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi confirm that he is not only "anti-progress" but also mocks the idea of a developed and empowered India.

Rahul Gandhi during his Gujarat visit mocked Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'vikas' (development) agenda by saying that 'vikas' has gone mad in the state after listening to the party's false promises and lies.

Attacking Gandhi over his remarks, Irani said, "He has clearly indicated that his party and he prefer the idea of vote bank politics over vikas."

"The manner in which Rahul Gandhi has made fun of the dreams and aspirations of the people of Gujarat will lead to a historic defeat for the Congress Party in the December 2017 state elections," she said.

She quipped that 'vikas' is not something to be ridiculed; instead it should be welcomed.

Irani opined that for decades, the Congress Party and particularly the Nehru Gandhi family has been anti-Gujarat.

"The Congress Party, whose rule was a 'Sultanate of Corruption', is concocting stories to defame the people of Gujarat before the elections," she added.

Slamming the Congress vice-president, she said, "The people of Gujarat will give a befitting answer to this slander and keep this 'Sultanate of Corruption' as far from them as possible."

Irani further advised Gandhi to devote time to Amethi, his Lok Sabha constituency as it needs immediate attention and more development works.

"The people of Amethi are asking for 'vikas' even as the local MP goes around the nation mocking 'vikas' and insulting the poor of India," the union minster said.

She also advised the Congress Party to manage its own house, which is falling like a pack of cards adding that a party that can't manage its own house can hardly be expected to run an entire nation.