Foolishness of demonetisation, 'Gabbar Singh Tax' was not done by anyone in 70 years: Rahul

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his strident criticism of the Congress, party president Rahul Gandhi Saturday said in the last 70 years, the "foolishness of demonetisation and Gabbar Singh Tax" was not done by anybody.

He was addressing an election meeting in Unchahar in Rabeareli from where UPA chairperson and his mother Sonia Gandhi is seeking re-election to the Lok Sabha.

"In the past 70 years, the foolishness of demonetisation and Gabbar Singh Tax (Gandhi's coinage for the Goods and Services Tax or GST) was not done by anyone," Gandhi said.

His remarks come against the backdrop of repeated attacks by the prime minister on the Congress, holding it responsible for all ills since the country got Independence.

"Chowkidar (watchman) has done 'chori' (theft) of factories and employment of people of Raebareli and Amethi (the Lok Sabha seat represented by the Congress chief)," he said.

Rahul Gandhi also accused Modi of not wanting to fill 22 lakh vacant posts in the government.

"Some 22 lakh jobs are vacant in the government. Modi did not want to fill these vacant posts and only wants to help his friends. We will give these 22 lakh jobs in one year and 10 lakh jobs in panchyats," he said.

The Congress president asked the gathering, "Where are Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi - in jail or outside?
Promising that Congress will "put back money in your pocket", Gandhi said when people get money, they will start making purchases. "After demonetisation you stopped purchasing and factories stopped manufacturing giving rise to unemployment. Our 'Nyay' will give jobs."
Stating that in the present regime, crop insurance money was not given to farmers, Gandhi said, "Entire work of insurance has been given to people like Anil Ambani. You give money for insurance but when you face loss you are not compensated. Rs 10,000 crore have been taken from farmers and given to people like Anil Ambani..."