Leaders chant unity and GST mantra for votes

Modi addressed election rallies in Kannauj, a SP stronghold, Hardoi and Sitapur, a day after filing his nomination from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat for a second term.

Dubbing the alliance as ‘mahamilavati (highly adulterated) opportunists’, Modi said in Kannauj that he doesn’t believe in politics of caste. Later in Hardoi, he slammed the Congress, blaming it for showing scant regard for Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and pointed out that his government has dedicated cashless payments app BHIM in his name.

In Sitapur, Modi appealed to voters to support the BJP and said, “Your every single vote will directly come into the account of Modi.”

“Mayawatiji (BSP chief), I am most backward...I request with folded hands not to drag me into caste politics, 130 crore people are my family,” he said in his first rally of the day in Kannauj.

“This country didn’t know my caste till my detractors abused me...I am thankful to Mayawatiji, Akhileshji (SP chief), Congress people and the ‘mahamilavatis’ that they are discussing my caste...I believe that taking birth in a backward caste is an opportunity to serve the country,” the PM said.

He hit out at the opposition for attacking ‘chowkidars’ (watchmen) and Ram bhakts, and alleged that the alliance wanted a helpless government because their mantra was “jaat, paat japna; janata ka maal apna” (Talk about caste while looting people’s money).

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accusing the Congress of doing “nothing” while in power, party president Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday nobody had committed the “foolishness” of demonetisation and the “Gabbar Singh Tax” in the last 70 years.

Addressing rallies in Raebareli and Amethi constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi also assured the people that implementing the minimum income guarantee scheme, Nyay, was possible.

“In the past 70 years, the foolishness of demonetisation and Gabbar Singh Tax (Gandhi’s coinage for the goods and services tax or the GST) was not done by anyone,” he said at a rally in Unchahar town of Raebareli district.

The Congress chief’s remarks come against the backdrop Modi repeatedly holding the grand old party responsible for all the “ills” since the country got Independence.

“The ‘chowkidar’ (watchman) has done ‘chori’ (theft) of factories and employment of people of Raebareli and Amethi,” Rahul Gandhi said. “Where are Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi - in jail or outside?” he asked.

Referring to demonetisation, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress would put back money in the people’s pocket. “After demonetisation, you stopped purchasing and factories stopped manufacturing, giving rise to unemployment. Our ‘Nyay’ will give jobs,” he said.

The Congress chief alleged that work on a railway line, railway factory and a food park was stopped in Amethi. “I have the list of all the works which were stopped by this government. I will do double work for Raebareli and Amethi, and ensure employment for the people,” he said.