Congress thinks about poor, says Rahul

It is important to develop infrastructure but the country's focus should be on improving the lot of the poor, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said Monday.

Addressing an election rally at Pushkar town, some 150 km from Jaipur, Gandhi said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seemed not to be bothered by the mass of poor.

"BJP talks about infrastructure development and the building of airports and roads. But they do not talk about the poor," Gandhi said.

"They think that development of roads, rail lines and airports will change the country... We also want to develop infrastructure but we want the poor to be a part of this growth," he added.

Gandhi insisted that the Congress did not lag behind when it came to developing infrastructure.

"In fact we did more infrastructure development then the (BJP-led) NDA when they ruled the country. We developed three times more roads than the NDA," he said.

"Poor still go to bed hungry. And the BJP can only think about making roads and developing infrastructure, but we are concerned about the poor."

He said that poverty had to be eradicated in India.

"We talk about rights, the future and employment. The BJP thinks all this is a wastage of money.

"That is why when we tried to introduce public welfare schemes like food security bill, they opposed it," said Gandhi.

Speaking days before Rajasthan votes Dec 1 to pick a new 200-seat legislature, Gandhi appreciated the supply of free medicines and medical schemes launched by the state government.

Taking a dig at BJP's chief ministerial candidate Vasundhara Raje, the Congress star campaigner said: "BJP leaders say the free medicines are poison.

"They think that medicines sold in attractive wrappers at high prices are effective. They don't understand that millions are benefited by the free medicine scheme."

Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress general secretary C.P. Joshi and other senior leaders also addressed the rally.