Hardoi (Uttar Pradesh), April 21 (IANS): BJP leader Narendra Modi Monday said that if he comes to power, he will free the country of criminals by sending all offenders to prison.

"I have decided that after May 16, once the election result is declared and the new government is formed, I will examine the affidavits of all winning MPs to find out about their criminal records. I won't leave even the BJP and NDA candidates. I will then tell the Supreme Court to punish all the criminals," Modi said, addressing an election rally here.

"This way, I will clean parliament and make the country free of criminals. No person with a criminal record will be able to rule the country then," said the Gujarat chief minister.

Then hitting at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Modi said he makes fun of poverty and the poor people.

"Rahul (bhaiyya) goes to see poverty. One who doesn't know what poverty is, has to go and see it. But he goes to see poverty taking along media persons and makes fun of poor people," the BJP's prime ministerial candidate said.

Modi added that he knows what it is to be poor and grow up in poverty.

Questioning the ruling Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh, he said: "Public have to keep guns. The government here has to answer now as to why do people have to live in such fear."