Modi symbolises collusion of crony capitalists and PM: Rahul Gandhi

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narenrdra Modi accusing him helping his namesakes Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi carry out the biggest theft in the history of India.

Addressing the 84th AICC Plenary, Gandhi also outlined his vision for rebuilding the 133-year-old party where he intended to give prominence to ordinary workers over leaders.

A combative Gandhi also hit out at the BJP for appointing a “murder accused” as its President and asserted that the country would never allow the Congress to behave in a similar way.

“India expects much more from the Congress. India will never let us behave like the RSS and the BJP. … BJP is the voice of an organisation, while Congress is the voice of the nation,” the Congress president said.

Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of distracting the nation from the real problems and indulging in crony capitalism.

“The Prime Minister is oblivious to the problems faced by the farmers and the young people of the country. There are no jobs, the farmers are dying. The Prime Minister says 'Let's go do yoga',” he said referring to the International Yoga Day celebrations at the Rajpath.

Playing on the similar surnames of the Prime Minister and that of controversial businessmen Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, Gandhi said it reflected the collusion between the BJP government and crony capitalists.

“The name Modi symbolises the collusion between India's biggest crony capitalists and the prime minister of India. Modi gives Modi Rs 30,000 crores of your money and in turn, Modi gives Modi money for marketing Modi and fighting elections,” he said.

Spelling out his vision for change in the Congress, Gandhi said he intended to break down the wall between the leadership and the party worker who has the energy to bring about a change in the organisation.

“My first job will be to breakdown that wall, but not through anger. We will do it with proper respect to the senior leaders. We will bring down the wall with love,” the Congress President said amid loud cheers among the workers gathered at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here.