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Balasore: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a scathing attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over rising unemployment in the country and called his party's proposed NYAY scheme a surgical strike on poverty.
While addressing a poll rally in the Balasore Lok Sabha constituency of Odisha, the Congress President said, "Under the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY), Rs 72,000 will be given annually to five crore families in the country. Poor states like Bihar and Odisha will get the benefits under the scheme. This is the surgical strike on poverty."
Addressing his first election rally in Odisha after the declaration of poll dates, Rahul said NYAY scheme will help generate employment, which was affected by demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Rahul allayed fears that the middle class would have to bear the burden for the scheme. He said the scheme will be entirely funded with the "money looted by the industrialists like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, who fled the country".
Rahul attacked Modi for not talking about employment generation, farmer issues and corruption.
"Modi carries teleprompter wherever he goes to deliver his speeches. He keeps getting orders not to talk about employment. He does not mention the Rs 15 lakh promised to remit into accounts of every poor Indian", said Rahul.
He said while Modi promised 2 crore jobs, in reality, 27,000 jobs were lost every 24 hours under his government.
"There are 22 lakh government posts lying vacant. Once Congress comes to power, we will fill the vacancies and create 10 lakh jobs in panchayats," he added.
Speaking on the farmers' plight, he said the Congress government would ensure that no farmer is sent to jail for defaulting on loans. He said MSP of Rs 2,600 would be provided for per quintal of paddy once the party forms the government in the state.
Responding to Rahul, BJP's Odisha in-charge Arun Singh said, "Rahul Gandhi is the leader of liars. Congress party is not coming to power."
(With IANS inputs)
