PUDUCHERRY: Congress top leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday lashed out the at the ruling AINRC-BJP government over alleged counterfeit drug manufacturing and asserted that it was not just corruption but a murderous act as spurious drugs were distributed across the country.

Addressing a rally here for the April 9 Assembly polls, Gandhi said the Congress party was committed to grant of statehood and assured that civic polls would be held in Puducherry within six months of it assuming power.

"Today Puducherry is leading in fake medicines; massive fake drug manufacturing takes place here and no action is taken by the UT government," he alleged. Further, he said the fake drugs manufacturing was not just about corruption, but it was "murder" as spurious drugs were spread across the country.

He alleged that everybody was aware that "30 per cent commission" was being taken on all contracts in the union territory. The vibrant industrial, textile sector are in terminal decline and 100s of factories were closed.