'Cong will launch surgical strike to eradicate poverty'

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that his party will launch a surgical strike to eradicate poverty in India.

Rahul, who was on a day's visits to Rajasthan, said this while addressing a rally in Sriganganaga, a day after he announced the Rs. 6,000-a-month dole plan for India's poorest families, if the Congress is voted to power.

"The Congress is planning to create history by attempting a dhamaka (blast) to eradicate poverty in the country. We want to ensure that there is not a single poor person in India", Rahul Gandhi said in his maiden election rally in Rajasthan.

While launching an election campaign in Rajiv Gandhi stadium at Suratgarh, Rahul attacked the Modi government by calling it "insensitive towards the marginalised class in the country."

Rahul on Monday had announced to roll out Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) scheme for the poorest 20% households, if Congress is voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Further while taking a jibe at Modi government, Rahul said that only the rich could dream under the Modi rule.

In his address, he also accused PM Modi of corruption in connection with the Rafale deal.

"A farmer or an unemployed does not keep a chowkidar (gatekeeper). Only rich like Anil Ambani and Nirav Modi can afford a chowkidar, which is why he allowed their safe exit from the country, " Rahul said.

The congress chief's visit to Rajasthan is crucial especially when the party is yet to announce its list of candidates for the upcoming polls.

Earlier, the Rajasthan Congress had said that the party will announce the names of its candidates after Rahul's visit.

Rahul also held a public meeting at the Khel Sankul Ground in Bundi district and addressed Shakti booth workers at Ramleela ground in Jaipur.

Former BJP leaders Ghanshyam Tiwari and Surendra Goyal and a dozen independent MLAs, nine of whom were Congress rebels, joined the Congress in Rahul's presence at the Ramleela ground.

Tiwari is a five time MLA had openly criticised and accused Raje of corruption and made several complaints against her to the BJP high command.

He resigned from the party in June 2018.

"I have joined Congress for the protection of democratic values", Tiwari told media.

Rajasthan goes to polls in two phases.

In the first phase on April 29, elections will be held for 13 seats.

On May 6, the second phase of the elections will be held for 12 seats.

In 2014, the BJP made a historic win by sweeping all 25 seats in Rajasthan. Later in 2018 bypolls, the saffron party lost two seats to the Congress.