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Continuing his tirade against BJP, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today said like Gujarat, the Chhattisgarh development model too is a "myth" and accused the ruling state government of selling farmers' land to a businessman at a "throwaway" price.
Addressing a rally in Korba parliamentary constituency in Chhattisgarh, Rahul reiterated his "toffee model" barb against BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and in the same breath attacked state Chief Minister Raman Singh over "corruption" in his government.
"Balco (an aluminum major)...Was given to a businessman at a very low price during BJP rule...Similarly in Gujarat, Modi sold farmers' land at the rate of Rs 1 per sq meter which was further sold by that businessman at Rs 800 per sq meter," he alleged.
Taking a jibe at Modi, Rahul said, "In today's age nothing can be purchased except a toffee at Rs 1 and Modi had given away 45,000 acres belonging to the poor farmers at the rate of Rs 1 per sq meter...Chhattisgarh is a bit different, here land was sold at the rate of Rs 200 per (acre) to a businessman".
"The way the myth about the Gujrat model is being spread (in the country), the Chhattisgarh model is also the same," he added.
Congress has fielded its sitting MP and Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Charandas Mahant from the Korba seat.
Accusing BJP of copying the Congress' manifesto, Gandhi said, "BJP's sole aim is to make Narendra Modi the prime minister" and added that BJP will face a crushing defeat like it had faced in 2004 and 2009.
"Congress has brought 15 crore people of the country above the poverty line, (has) ensured right to food, right to work and many other welfare schemes for people. We will also ensure right to health, right to house, right to pension and many others welfare schemes," Rahul said in his address.
