Assam defeat will finish off Modi: Rahul

On two-day visit to election-bound State, Congress vice president goes all out against PM

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Dec 11: Rahul Gandhi today launched a scathing attack at Prime Minister rendra Modi ridiculing the BJP's defeat in the Bihar elections, which, the Congress vice president said, was a consequence of the "hollow" promises made by Modi to the people of the country.

"When we formed an alliance in Bihar with Lalooji and Nitishji, he (Modi) had called us bewakoof (fools). Such words are unbecoming of a Prime Minister. Later, he realized that we were not bewakoof. We want to do a similar thing in Assam. A defeat in Assam will finish off Modi," Gandhi said addressing party workers at an Extended Executive meeting of the State Congress unit organized at District Library here.

Gandhi arrived here on a two-day visit to the State this afternoon ahead of the next year's assembly elections.

The Congress leader repeatedly targeted rendra Modi and said the Bihar election results have forced the Prime Minister to change his attitude.

"We have observed in the Parliament. After the Bihar elections, he is a changed man…the way he talks to others," he said.

"Every ten days, he comes up with new promises. Initially, I had thought that if he makes five promises, at least one will be fulfilled. But today he resembles a hollow and weak person, one who can create conflicts among Indians. He just knows to talk big," Gandhi said.

He said after the defeat in the Bihar elections, the word 'Bihar' has disappeared from Modi's diction. "Now, we want to ensure that the word Assam also vanishes from his vocabulary," he said.

Praising Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who "unlike Modi, has kept his promises," Gandhi said "making promises and brining in development are two different things."

"Assam was plagued by murders and violence fifteen years back. And look where the State is now. People of Assam have prospered in harmony. Recently India Today had awarded the State for its achievement in infrastructure development," he said.

He said that if the BJP is voted to power in the State, the party will take the State to what it was fifteen years ago.

Rahul said, "Who defeated them in the recently held civic polls in Gujarat? Why is the largest community of the Gujarat agitating…? The Gujarat model is a balloon and we will burst it."

Emboldened by the Bihar election results, Rahul said the Congress will fight and defeat the BJP in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil du and Kerala.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi interacted with women Self Help Groups at a programme organized at the GMCH Auditorium.

In the evening, the Congress leader met intellectuals of the State. He will take part in a walkathon at Barpeta tomorrow before returning to Delhi.