Accusing the Narendra Modi government of fooling the poor, All India Congress Committee president Rahul Gandhi on Friday claimed that though Modi had opened bank accounts for everyone, the money was sent to Anil Ambani.

Addressing an election rally, his first in Odisha after elections were notified, Gandhi said while the Modi government did not put any money in Jan Dhan Yojana bank accounts, the Nyay Yojana would put money in the poor people’s accounts.

“Modi did a good thing by opening bank accounts of people. He had promised to provide Rs 15 lakh to every poor’s account. Has he done that? He put money in Anil Ambani’s accounts. We will provide 5 crore poor families a sum of Rs 6,000 per month for five years. This will be our surgical strike on poverty. Nyay yojna will be implemented across India when Congress comes to power. The poor will gain,” said Gandhi.

The AICC chief said the money for the Nyay scheme will not be be taken from the middle class by any new tax. “The money will be taken from the pockets of people like Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi,” he said.

Attacking Modi on the issue of unemployment, Gandhi promised jobs to the unemployed youth of Odisha if Congress is voted to power.

“Has Modi government given jobs to unemployed youths? Has the Naveen Patnaik government provided jobs to unemployed youths? Around 22 lakh government jobs are lying vacant. We will provide jobs to the youth within a year, if voted to power. Besides that, we will also create 10 lakh jobs in panchayat level,” Rahul said, adding that unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month would be given to individuals till they get jobs.

Incidentally, Rahul said the Congress will bring in a law under which farm loan defaulters would not be prosecuted.

The AICC chief arrived at Balasore a few hours late after his flight from Delhi to Patna encountered engine trouble. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

First Published: Apr 26, 2019 21:23 IST