'PM's friends made profits of Rs 10,000 cr in 5 yrs'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about his 56-inch chest but what about his heart, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asked on Friday, while alleging that the PM's friends made profits of Rs 10,000 crore in the last five years while farmers suffered.

"The prime minister used to talk about his 56-inch chest... but he should also say whether he has a heart or not and give its measurement. He has sympathies in his heart for industrialists, not for people," she said while addressing an election rally in Bhadohi.

The Congress general secretary in-charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh addressed four rallies in the state on Friday. The first one was in Siddharth Nagar, after which she flew to Basti.

Subsequently, she also addressed meetings in Sant Kabir Nagar and Bhadohi in support of her party candidates in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

In Siddharth Nagar, Priyanka Gandhi alleged that while farmers were suffering, loans worth Rs 5.5 lakh crore of big industrialists were waived by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government and the prime minister's friends had registered profits of Rs 10,000 crore in the last five years.

Hitting out at Modi, she said he talked about Pakistan and other "absurd" issues, but never about the problems of the people.

The Congress leader termed the current government "arrogant," alleging that it spreads anger, hatred and negativity.

She alleged that when farmers of a number of states, including Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Maharashtra, went to Delhi to stage a protest, the prime minister did not come out of his bungalow for even five minutes to hear their grievances.

"Now they are highlighting the 'Kisan Samman Yojana' and promising Rs 6,000 per year. When the Congress asked the government to waive farm loans, it was said that there was no money in the economy.

"If you did not have money, how were (loans worth) Rs 5.5 lakh crore of big industrialists waived? Where does the insurance money of farmers go? While you (farmers) were suffering, the companies of the prime minister's friends recorded profits of Rs 10,000 crore in the last five years," the Congress leader alleged.

Claiming that the Congress governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh had waived farm loans, she said, "When the intention is good, loan waiver starts in three days, but when the intention is bad, the arrogant leader talks big and leaves."

Stating that there were false propaganda and negativity in politics, Priyanka Gandhi said the people of the country should never underestimate their power.

"Whenever he (Modi) comes before you, he never talks about your problems. He talks of the past, Pakistan and other absurd issues. He did a world tour... visited Pakistan, ate biryani there, visited Japan and played the drums, went to the US, Europe and other countries, but never to a single village in his parliamentary constituency to know about the real problems of the people," the Congress leader claimed.

Highlighting the Congress's manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, Priyanka Gandhi said her party would make all sections of the society stand on their own, the poor would be given Rs 72,000 per year and 24 lakh vacant government posts would be filled by March, 2020.

The Congress leader claimed that during demonetisation, the entire country was made to stand in queues barring the rich people and BJP members.

"Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had also stood in the queue and the BJP had mocked at him," she said, while urging people to ensure that the saffron party did not come back to power at the Centre.

Campaigning came to an end on Friday in the four Lok Sabha constituencies of Siddharth Nagar, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar and Bhadohi, which will go to the polls on Sunday.