Opposition indulging in politics of rich, Congress always stood for the poor: Rahul Gandhi

Kukshi (Madhya Pradesh): Criticising the Opposition for indulging in the 'politics of the rich', Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that his party always stood for the poor and weaker sections of the society.

"Congress' politics is for the poor and weaker sections, while the Opposition indulges in that of the rich. Congress' dream is to work for the upliftment of the poor, Dalits and tribals," Rahul said.

Congress wants to break the wall which is dividing the poor and the rich, he said while addressing an election meet at the Talanpur Maidan here today. Rahul said his party believed in development.

"But mere construction of roads or providing electricity does not help hungry people," he said.

Therefore, the UPA government brought the Food Security Bill. But the Opposition sought to know from where the money would come to implement it, he said.

"However, the UPA very well knows from where funds would be raised to implement an important programme like the Food Security Bill," he said. Rahul attacked the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh for reducing the budget for the welfare of tribals.

"The present BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is only concerned about the rich... Congress' ideology is to take along all the sections of the society, while the opposition only believed in dividing people," he said.

Rahul ridicules BJP govts' claim of laying roads

Dhar (Madhya Pradesh): With BJP tom-tomming about development of roads in states ruled by it, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said mere creation of infrastructure has no meaning till the needy have access to education and health-care.

"It is not that we do not create infrastructure. But the opposition's thinking is that you make roads and everything will be all right...(but) the poor don't get benefit from the roads," he said at an election rally here.

The Congress Vice President said while farmers sweat it out in their fields, the roads and airports are used by the selective rich.

"Roads alone won't give food to the child or a woman... from his field, a farmer sees an aircraft and hopes that one day his children will travel by it," Gandhi said, castigating the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh.

He said in Rajasthan, the Congress government has provided free medicine to people.

Gandhi said when the government brought employment guarantee scheme, people asked about the funds required.

"When we talk about needs of Dalits, tribals, minorities and the poor, we are asked about funds...but people remain silent when the sand mafia robs you," he said.