Loan defaulters used to carry Congress 'taveej' as shield against law: Modi

Blaming the previous Congress rules for bank defaults, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged the defaulters used to carry the party's name as "taveej" (amulet) as a shield but his government has acted strongly against such people and even "big crorepatis" have been forced to pay up.

Modi alleged that banks were "looted" by "naamdaar" who used to make telephone calls to the lenders to sanction loans.

Addressing an election rally here, he said those shedding "crocodile tears" for farmers should come to Rajasthan "to see" whether lands of farmers were purchased at a throw away price or not by people allegedly close to the Congress party in Delhi.

"Had the farmers known about the future and potential of solar power park, would they have sold their lands," the prime minister said.

Talking about the 'amulet', Modi said it saved people who looted government money.

"Main aapko samjhana chahta hun. Unhone Congress ke naam ka taveej bana rakha tha. Jo log galat kaam karte hai, bura kaam karte hai, sarkaari khajaane se lootte hai, bankon se paise maar lete hai, unkon kuch karne ki jarurat nahin thi. Congress ka taveej bandhon to unkon ek raksha kawach mil jaata tha," he said.

When translated into english, the statement meant, "I want to make you (people) understand. They had made an 'amulet' in the name of Congress, which saved the people doing wrong deeds, looted government funds, take huge bank loans. They had to do nothing but to tie Congress amulet which acted as a shield."