Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of indulging in political exploitation of the sacrifices of soldiers in remarks that come in the wake of cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
"Jo hamare jawan hain jinhone apna khoon diya hai, Jammu and Kashmir mein khoon diya hai, jinhone Hindustan ke liye surgical strike kiye hain, unke khoon ke peeche aap chhupe hain. Unki aap dalali kar rahe ho. Yeh bilkul galat hai. {You (Modi) are hiding behind the blood of soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir and those who carried out the surgical strikes for India. You are exploiting their sacrifices, which is very wrong}," he said.
Gandhi was addressing a rally in New Delhi, marking the culmination of his month-long 'Deoria to Delhi kisan yatra' in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
"The Indian army has done its job for the country, you do yours," the Congress Vice President said, attacking Modi.
His attack comes a few days after he had praised Modi for his first Prime Minister-like action in two years in the context of surgical strikes. Gandhi said the people of the country have elected Modi as Prime Minister and entrusted with the responsibility of helping farmers and soldiers.
"You should help the farmers of the country. You should provide more money to the Indian Army under the 7th Pay Commission, that is your responsibility. This is why people of India have elected you and this is the truth," he said.
Gandhi's remarks come at a time when there is a growing chorus over making public the evidence of the operation on terror launch pads in PoK.
The army has already handed over to the government video clips of the cross-LoC surgical strikes as per laid down procedure.
Addressing partymen, the Congress leader also accused Modi of dividing the country on religion and caste lines and not fulfilling his poll promises of providing employment to youth, higher support prices for farm produce among others.
He also charged the Prime Minister with helping a select few industrialists while not waiving debts of farmers.
"You have given Rs 1.10 lakh crore to 15 people while youth are not getting jobs, they are committing suicides. You are not doing justice... you have not implemented Swaminathan Commission report.
"Modiji you promised two crore jobs per year that has not been done... You talked about 'Make in India' that is not happening, you talked about Swachh Bharat that is also not visible... You only did one thing - that of dividing the country on religion and caste lines," he said.
"We have to change this. Crores of youth are unemployed and you are doing anything, this is not acceptable.
"Crores of youth are not asking for any gift. They want to work and do something for the country but employment is not being provided to them," he said.
Seeking to counter Modi's attack on Congress for having not done anything for the country in the past 70 years, Gandhi said, "We have given them justice."
The Congress leader said he used to jokingly ask the people if they have bank accounts and did they get the Rs 15 lakh as promised by Modi.
"In my last 30 days experience what I learnt is that -- even the smallest politicians think they know how this country should run. With humility, I want to tell you that in last 30 days poor people taught me about India, agriculture... no one knows better than them," he said. Gandhi's Kisan Yatra that started from Deoria in Uttar Pradesh on September 6, took off on its last leg from Meerut this morning where a large number of party supporters participated.
He also targeted Modi over the IDS window alleging that he had failed to act against black money despite his talk of "56-inch chest" to fight corruption, and instead brought out a scheme for turning into white the ill-gotten wealth of "thieves".
The Congress Vice President, who was speaking during his road show on the last day of his month-long Yatra, pressed the Modi government to announce a debt waiver for farmers.
Lashing out at Modi government, he said only the prime minister and his friends were "happy" as money has come into the pockets of 15 top businessmen and not the farmers, labour and small shopkeepers.
"Modiji had said he has a 56-inch chest and will fight out corruption, but he instead brought out a 'Fair and Lovely scheme' for turning the black money of the country's thieves into white.
"The money has not come into the pockets of farmers, labour and small shopkeepers, but went into those of 15 top businessmen. Only Modiji and his friends are happy," he said in Meerut.
Modi government had announced Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) -- a one-time opportunity to those with hidden income to come clean by making the disclosure and paying 45 per cent tax and penalty. After the end of the four-month window on September 30, the government had pegged the disclosed amount at Rs 65,250 crore.
Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo