Jharkhand polls: Rahul Gandhi calls Clean India campaign 'marketing gimmick', BJP retaliates

In a bid to restore people's trust in the Congress, the party's vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday held two rallies in Jharkhand's Manika and Panki districts.

Ranchi: In bid to restore people's trust in the Congress, the party's vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday held two rallies in Jharkhand's Manika and Panki districts.

Gandhi, while addressing the masses at Manika first, said that the BJP indulges in divisive politics and thinks that such kind of politics will benefit it.

Calling PM Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan a marketing gimmick, the Gandhi scion said that the BJP had promised development, but it has given broom in the hands of people.

“PM had promised 'Ache Din' after he came to power. It's been months now, has your quality of life improved in any way. Marketing and photo ops do not contribute to the development of the nation,” said Rahul.

He further went on to say that while UPA government worked for the underprivileged section of the society, PM Modi flies in planes with industrialists in Australia.

“We want you to benefit from the natural resources of the state but the opposition wants industrialists to benefit. Are the people of Jharkhand benefiting from its mineral wealth or is it going to someone else?” Rahul asked the masses.

Later, while making a pitch at Panki, Rahul said that despite being rich in natural resources, Jharkhand is still not developed.

“There is no shortage in this state. There is water, forests, natural resources, but still this state is lagging behind. We guaranteed food for everyone with food security bill and have given you power with right to information,” said Rahul.

“We brought Land Acquisition Bill, made sure, any person will have to take permission from Panchayat &farmers before acquiring land,” added Rahul.

Meanwhile, reacting sharply to Rahul's remarks on Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told ANI that those who have their mind filled with filth, will not be able to see cleanliness.

(With ANI inputs)