People want to punish Congress this time, says Modi

BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Sunday said that people want to punish the Congress this time.

"People don't only want to bring BJP to power but punish the Congress," said Modi while addressing a rally in Kota over 250 km from Jaipur

He said that at the time of 2009 elections, Congress promised to provide jobs to one crore youth but nothing had been done.

"Did they provide jobs....didn't they broke their promise," he asked.

Hitting out at his detractors, he claimed the Gujarat model could work across the country.

"Some of the people who are Congress minded say that Gujarat model can not be replicated elsewhere," Modi said.

"Just see in Rajasthan, there are 10 government run engineering colleges whereas in Gujarat there are 19 and the fees charged in Rajasthan by these colleges is Rs.45,000 while in Gujarat it is only Rs.1,500....don't you think Gujarat model can work elsewhere," he said.

Modi said that the country has 65 percent of the population that is below 35 years of age and if skills of youth is developed, then India can become a great power in the world.

Noting that the world wants teachers, nurses and software engineers in lakhs, he said India can provide skill manpower to the world if stress is given to skill development.

"The government in Delhi only provided a budget of Rs.1,000 crore for this, where as a Gujarat government alone is providing Rs.800 crore budget," he added.