On the second day of his Navsarjan Yatra in Saurashtra region, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the people of Gujarat, including farmers, small traders and labourers work hard but the benefits are reaped by five-10 industrialists and this "Modi Model" has to be changed.
Addressing a gathering here, Gandhi took pot shots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said a government run by "remote control" will not work in the state.
"If we want to change Gujarat, we have to make a government of Gujarat. Government by remote control will not work," he said.
Gandhi said if Congress is voted to power, it will generate employment, help farmers and waive off loans.
"People who do not have houses, we will provide them houses. It will be a government of the poor and the weak. We have to bring it back on the rails," Gandhi said.
The Congress leader said the story of Gujarat has been that of benefit of a few individuals.
"Work is done by the farmer, small trader, labourer, youth and benefits are reaped by 5-10 industrialists. This is the story of Gujarat, Modiji's model. We have to change this," Gandhi said.
Gandhi began the second day of his visit to Gujarat on Tuesday by meeting trading community representatives in Jamnagar. They shared their concerns with him.
Gandhi, who also addressed a gathering in Dhrol in Jamnagar, hit out at Modi over police firing during the Patidar agitation.
"Patidars had to face bullets under Modi government. But Congress wants to move forward with love and in spirit of brotherhood," he said.
Gandhi also tweeted his remarks.
"I want to tell the Patidar community that people of BJP were responsible for firing on you. This is not the Congress way. We work with affection and brotherhood."
"You cannot run Gujarat through remote control. Gujarat will be run by its farmers, labourers and small traders," he said.
Gandhi had on Monday started his party's campaign for the assembly election later this year with a visit to Dwarkadhish temple in Dwarka.
During his three-day visit to Gujarat, Gandhi is meeting people in villages across Saurashtra region which had witnessed agitation by the Patidar community for quotas in jobs and education.
--IANS
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