PTI

Purulia (WB), Apr 24: Admitting that fight against terrorism is important, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday asserted that fighting underdevelopment in the country is more important.

"It is true that fight against terrorism is important, but ... it is more important to fight underdevelopment in India," Gandhi said during his first election rally here in West Bengal.

Accusing the CPM-led Left Front government of ignoring problems of the economically backward sections in this part of the state, Gandhi said, "there is more hunger in Purulia than in the entire country.

"The state government has been forgetting this district which is (one of) the most backward in India," AICC general secretary alleged in his 20-minute speech.

"Your state government has been forgetting you and your problems .... central funds for development programmes do not reach you," he added.

In support of his contention, the Congress leader told the gathering that 40% of central funds for West Bengal remained unutilised.

"There is not even 20 days work among the 100 days (under NREGA) ... Only 950 of four lakh people have got job cards under this programme. Look at Andhra Pradesh which has computerised data on those who have got employment," he said.

West Bengal goes to three-phase polls beginning April 30.