Modi dubs Congress 'bail gaadi'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took potshots at the Congress by calling it a 'bail gaadi'.

Holding the Congress responsible for corruption and poverty, Modi said in a taunting tone, "People of India have started calling Congress a 'bail gaadi' as most of the veteran Congress leaders are out on bail".

The prime minister was in Rajasthan to inaugurate 13 projects worth over Rs 2,100 crore and was addressing around 2.5 lakh people from across the state at the Pradhanmantri Labharti Jansamvaad, PM-Beneficiaries meet, in Jaipur.

While striking an emotional chord with the people, a few months before the Assembly polls, Modi began his speech saying, "I salute this brave land - Rajasthan" and remembered the heroes and mystics of the state like Maharana Pratap and Meera Bai.

"Rajasthan has always inspired people from all over the country and history is full of evidence of this. Next year Rajasthan completes 70 years. Let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a developed Rajasthan, which will play a pivotal role in the building of a New India," Modi said.

At the meet, claimed to the first of its kind, Modi met several beneficiaries of the Ujjwal Yojana, the Pradhan Mantri Sanwad Yojana, the Mudra Yojana and the National Child Health Programme.

The prime minister also inaugurated the Elevated Road Project for Ajmer, Water Supply and Sewerage projects in various cities, Upgradation of STPs in Dholpur, Nagaur, Alwar, and Jodhpur.

Describing Raje as a people's leader, the prime minister hailed the efforts put in by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

"Never forget the tough circumstances in which Vasundhara Raje took oath in 2013. When she took the oath, systems were not working properly. She has changed the work culture in the state," Modi said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress has criticised the state government for roping in state machinery and public money to make Modi's rally in Jaipur a success.

According to an order of the General Administration Department (GAD), the government has spent Rs. 722.53 lakh to bring people from 33 districts to the state capital.

Around 5,000 buses were ferried to transport the participants, including school buses. As claimed by the BJP, around 2.5 lakh government scheme beneficiaries from all over Rajasthan attended the rally.

The prime minister's visit is said to be a precursor to the BJP's official campaign for the Rajasthan Assembly election slated to take place later this year.