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Giving away farm land at throwaway prices to an industrialist who made enormous profits selling it was the much touted Gujarat model of Narendra Modi, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi alleged today.
"Modi sahab talks about his Gujarat model. What has he done? He deprived the poor farmers of their land to give away 35,000 acre of agricultural land to industrialist Adani at Rs one per metre," Gandhi said at an election meeting here.
"Adani then sold the land at Rs 800 per metre. His industry grew from a Rs 3000 crore company to a Rs 40,000 crore company now just by selling farmers land at high cost and not through production. This he calls the Gujarat model," Gandhi said.
"A toffee sells at Rs one per piece here. If you give a toffee, the Gujarat government will give you one metre of land if you are Adani," the Congress leader said.
He said that people of Gujarat had worked hard for years setting up textile mills and other industries much before the advent of the Modi government, while the Gujarat chief minister was claiming that it was because of his efforts.
"Modi makes speeches that he will bring change to India. One person cannot bring change, but only the collective effort of crores of people can do it," he said.
Referring to Modi's 'chowkidar' remarks, Gandhi said "Congress wants to make you (people) the chowkidar by giving you the keys of the country's development."
Speaking about the North East, Gandhi said that the Congress government planned to make the North East a manufacturing hub with road and rail links with South Asia, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi said today.
"The only thing that needs to be done is to connect this region with a very strong road and rail network. The region can also be connected to South Asia. If our government comes to power, we will do it," he said.
Stating that the government was developing an industrial corridor connecting the four metro cities and important ports, he said "The industrial corridor is passing through near Assam. We will connect this region with the corridor by a four-lane road. We will do it soon."
He said he discussed the richness of Assam and the Northeast with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
He said he discussed the richness of Assam and the Northeast with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
"It is so rich that we can make Assam and North East a manufacturing hub of India," Gandhi said which would generate a huge number of jobs.
Stating that a lot of 'made in China' goods were available in India at present, he said "I want to see a day when we will have all made in India, made in Assam and made in Nagaon products. We want to do that. If we can make that, crores of youths will get jobs."
Gandhi also said if the Congress came to power again, it would provide the poor with the right to shelter and free medicine.
