Chhattisgarh elections turn into battle of words as Modi, Rahul hurl vocal bombs

The Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh turned into a battle of eloquence between Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as both leaders hurled ‘vocal bombs’ at each other during their rallies in Kanker and Baster, respectively. While rejuvenated Rahul Gandhi scratched the demonetisation ‘wounds’ to attack Modi, the latter used his oratory skills to launch a counter-offensive against the Congress chief.

Addressing a public rally in Kanker, the Gandhi scion reminded people of tough demonetisation days when they had to stand in long queues outside ATMs for hours to withdraw cash.

“All of you were standing in long queues during demonetisation but not one black money holder was seen. Also, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi and Mehul Choksi ran away from the country with your money," Gandhi said.

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He raked up another major issue of alleged irregularities in the Rafale fighter jets deal and accused the Modi government of working at the behest of industrialist Anil Ambani.

"PM Modi had gifted a Rs 30,000 crore deal to industrialist Anil Ambani. The Modi government decided to change the prices of the Rafale fighter jets from Rs 526 crore per jet (decided by UPA govt) to Rs 1,600 crore per jet. The govt also snatched away the deal from HAL to hand it over to the Ambanis."

Hours after Rahul Gandhi’s Kanker rally, Modi also addressed a gathering in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Naxal-hit Bastar district in poll-bound Chhattisgarh.

The prime minister started his address with what he is best known for, selling dreams of development and a better future. He took on the Congress party and its “silver-spooned” chief, accusing them of supporting urban-Naxals and insulting Adivasis.

"Every corner of this region is a way for development today. This is because both the state and the central government have always worked together. Did anyone ever think that people would be able to fly to Delhi and back from Jagdalpur? Did anyone think that Bastar would have its own medical college and university?" Modi said.

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Modi said that while the BJP has given special attention to the lower strata of the society, the Congress party has done nothing for them except making fun of the tribal population.

"Dalits, backward classes and poor are a treasure for the Congress party. It is because of BJP's thinking that the lower strata of the society is given special attention and brought to the level of others. However, the Congress would make fun of the tribal population,"

The prime minister alleged that the Congress party lived by lies and has no future. “Congress does not have any future. The party that lives by lies does not have a place on Earth. Our only mantra is development, their work is only lying," he added.