Congress cannot be banished from Maharashtra: Rahul

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his call for 'Congress-free Maharashtra', saying it was impossible as his party's ethos and ideology were same as that of the state and its legendary leaders.

"BJP leaders say that Congress should be banished from Maharashtra. But they should know that there is no difference between the ideology of Congress and the thoughts of Shivaji Maharaj, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Jyotiba Phule. How will you remove them from the lives of people," he said addressing a poll rally at Dindori in Nashik district.

Rahul also slammed the Centre, accusing it of working for the benefit of industrialists at the expense of poor.

"We started Direct Benefit Transfer scheme for the poor under which money for social sector schemes like MNREGA was transferred to your bank accounts. Today, they too are continuing with it, but with a difference.

"Before (Narendra) Modi went to the US, a delegation of industrialists from there met him and pleaded to remove the cap on prices of medicines. A deal was reached behind the doors and now drugs for treating cancer that used to cost Rs 8,000 will be available for Rs one lakh. The money from your pocket will be directly transferred to the pockets of industrialists," he said.

Rahul said as a result of the government's policy, prices of medicines for treatment of illnesses like diabetes, blood pressure and cancer will increase manifold.

The Congress leader said the UPA government had brought changes in land acquisition law for the benefit of the poor and adivasis.

"Earlier industrialists came and took away your land for a pittance. Now you get more than the market price for your land. The industrialists are angry that now they have to secure permission of the panchayats before acquiring land for their projects," he said.

He also targeted Modi over his 'Achhe Din' slogan.

"At the time of Lok Sabha poll Modi said he will make India strong, will teach Pakistan a lesson. Now when the price of onion has shot up they say everything will be fine soon. Pakistan is firing on our jawans, children are dying and they say everything will be fine soon. When will things be fine?" he said.

Listing out achievements of the Congress government in the state, Rahul said," We constructed 6 dams here in Dindori the water from which is being used by the people of Nashik as well. We have made this region into an industrial zone, where 120 industries have started work employing thousands of youth."