Congress a sinking ship of corruption: Naqvi

Congress is a "sinking ship of corruption" and parties that decide to ally with it will be humbled at the hustings in the Lok Sabha polls, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Sunday.

On a visit here to inaugurate 'Hunar Haat', a Minority Affairs Ministry initiative, at the North Central Zone Cultural Centre, Naqvi also took a dig at Rahul Gandhi's Kailash-Mansarovar yatra saying the Congress chief should keep visiting holy places so that he gets the strength to face the truth and "stops resorting to falsehood".

"The Congress is a sinking ship of corruption, and all those who support the party will sink with it. A prime example is Uttar Pradesh where the Samajwadi Party tried its luck. Similarly, in West Bengal also, the Communist party was humbled at the hustings," he said.

The minister claimed that the BJP would again sweep to power in the Lok Sabha polls next year.

"In 2019, with the blessings of the people of the country, a government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be formed, and BJP will win with a thumping majority."

He said when the BJP had come to power in 2014, the inflation rate was more than 11 per cent. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has came down to four per cent, he added.

Acknowledging that prices have risen in the recent months, the minister said the central government would control and bring it down.

Responding to the Congress' attack over the Rafale deal, Naqvi said all those who were trying to create a controversy over the Rafale deal were unaware of the facts.

Referring to Gandhi's Mansarovar Yatram, Naqvi said, "We wish he (Rahul Gandhi) should visit more religious places so that he gathers the strength to face the truth and stops resorting to falsehood."

Hundreds of master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts from various parts of the country are taking part in "Hunar Haat" which will continue till September 16.