In Jaipur, PM Modi calls Congress 'bail-gadi' (Roundup)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday virtually began the BJP's poll campaign in Rajasthan and took a dig at the Congress, calling it a "bail-gadi" because several of its leaders and former ministers were out on bail.

Modi was on a day-long visit to Jaipur to inaugurate several infrastructure projects worth over Rs 2,100 crore in Rajasthan and address the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes of the central and state governments in Rajasthan that faces assembly elections later this year.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, the Prime Minister said the work being done now by the BJP in the state and at the Centre could have been done earlier.

"You are aware of the intention of the previous governments. It is because of their intentions, the people are now calling the Congress a 'bail gadi'. Many senior Congress leaders and former ministers are out on bail," Modi said at a public meeting here.

With "bail gadi" sounds like the Hindi word for "bullock cart", Modi emphasised that by "bail" he was referring to the relief given by courts to senior Congress leaders, who are facing legal battles.

He arrived in a special aircraft that landed at the Sanganer airport where he was welcomed by Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Before addressing the meeting Modi laid the foundation stone for several infrastructure projects, including elevated road project for Ajmer, water supply and sewerage projects in Ajmer, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Sikar and Mount Abu.

He said the central government and the state government were working together for the progress of Rajasthan.

"Never forget the tough circumstances in which Vasundhara Raje took oath in 2013. When she took oath, systems were not working properly. She has changed the work culture in the state.

"The previous government only indulged in laying the foundation stone of the projects and not completing them.

"We are working on ground level not on papers. Our projects are neither delayed nor abandoned. Development is our only agenda," Modi added.

He also said that farmers, women and Dalits are at the core of the Bharatiya Janata Party's government schemes.

The Prime Minister said Rajasthan is the land of sacrifice where many warriors and soldiers have laid down their lives for the sake of the nation.

"But our opponents never hesitate in questioning the services and efforts of our soldiers and forces. The people of India will never forgive them for this sin of theirs," Modi said.

Modi said over five crore people in India had been freed from the clutches of poverty.

In Rajasthan, 80 lakh toilets have been made, more than 2.5 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened, over 6 lakh beneficiaries now own houses under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana and more than 70 lakh people of the state have benefitted under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana and 44 lakh under Mudra Yojana.

The Prime Minister spoke at length about how the central government was working for the welfare of the farmers.

--IANS

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