Advertisement

If Congress was pro-poor, why does poverty still exist in India, asks PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the main opposition Congress party, saying it has suddenly remembered the poor after ruling the country for nearly six decades.

If Congress was pro-poor, why does poverty still exist in India, asks PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the main opposition Congress party, saying it has suddenly remembered the poor after ruling the country for nearly six decades.

“Suit-boot is definitely more acceptable than suitcase. After ruling for 60 years, the Congress has suddenly remembered the poor,” PM Modi said in an interview to news agency ANI.

Modi was referring to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's recent jibe against his government, calling it “suit-boot ki sarkaar”.

Modi told ANI that “people of this country have suffered and remained poor due to shortsighted policies of the Congress.”

“The result of Congress’ politics and governance of 60 years is that poverty is still our biggest challenge,” the PM stated.

Responding to a question on the Congress allegation of his government being pro-industrialist, Modi said, “You should ask them - if you were pro-poor, why does poverty still exist in India?”

“Those who gave away precious natural resources like coal and spectrum to their favourite industrialists have no right to say this,” the PM said further, referring to the massive 2G spectrum and coal blocks allocation scams that happened during the UPA regime.

Full interview: Suit boot ki sarkar is definitely better than suitcase, says PM Narendra Modi