Rahul throws 'made in China Sardar statue' barb at Modi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday ridiculed the Narendra Modi government for getting the statue of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel built in China.

Billed as the tallest in the world, the statue of India’s first home minister is going to be installed at the Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada river in Gujarat.

“Like shoes and shirts, we are importing Sardar Patel’s statue from China,” Rahul taunted while addressing an election rally at Chitrakoot in Satna district of Vindhya region.

The Congress president began his second phase of MP tour from Chitrakoot after performing puja at the famous Kamtanath temple. Banners showing Rahul as "Ram Bhakt" were put up by Congress supporters in the temple town. During his earlier visit on September 17, he was shown in banners as Shiv Bhakt.

Hitting out at the Madhya Pradesh government, the Congress president said under Shivraj Singh’s rule, the state has become number one in unemployment, rapes and farmer suicides. The Vyapam scam has destroyed education system in Madhya Pradesh, he alleged.

Reiterating his allegations against the NDA government over the Rafael issue, Rahul said the prime minister cannot talk to him eye-to-eye. “India’s Chowkidar has turned out to be a thief,” he added.

The Congress chief also addressed an election meeting in Satna. On Friday he is scheduled to hold a roadshow in Rewa.

Rahul was accompanied by Congress state president Kamal Nath, state party campaign committee chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia and Leader of Opposition in MP Assembly Ajay Singh.