Nirmand (HP), Nov 1 (PTI): Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday, took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, saying that even Congress leaders and workers find it difficult to understand what their party vice president says.
Gadkari, who was in Himachal Pradesh to campaign for the BJP ahead of the November 9 Assembly election in the state, also attacked the Nehru-Gandhi family over their "failure" to eradicate poverty and corruption.
The minister for road transport and highways alleged that all the Nehru-Gandhi family alleviated was the poverty of the party leaders and their families.
Attacking the Congress over dynastic politics, Gadkari asked, "Are we going to have a prime minister given birth by another prime minister. Would an MP give birth to an MP, an MLA give birth to an MLA?"
"The Congress promotes dynasty. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and now Rahul Gandhi is at the frontline, then what would the party workers do?" Gadkari said while addressing a poll rally at Bhadoli Kalan area of the Jhanduta Assembly constituency where BJP candidate Jeetram Katwal is in the fray.
He said that the Congress party cannot change the fortune of the nation and the BJP should be given a chance in Himachal Pradesh.
"Being someone's son is not a disqualification but at least he should prove his capabilities," Gadkari said, in a veiled reference to Rahul Gandhi.
"Even Congress leaders and workers don't understand what Rahul Gandhi says, not to speak of the public," he said.
Addressing another rally of about 5,000 people at Nirmand Chowk in Kullu district under the Anni Assembly constituency for BJP candidate Kishori Lal, the minister of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation said that the election in the state was not between the BJP or the Congress but for the future of the people, who have suffered due to corruption of the Congress government.
Gadkari said Rahul Gandhi was repeating the slogan that 'poverty will be eliminated' given by first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and continued by ex-prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
"Yes, they have succeeded in eradicating poverty but the poverty of Congress aides, families and leaders only, and not that of general people," he said.
He also accused Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of being involved in corruption.
Congress leaders have focused on the development of their families instead of the people of the state or the country, he alleged.
"The BJP wants to create employment opportunities in Himachal Pradesh through tourism which has immense potential," he said. "We will invest heavily to upgrade the infrastructure to promote tourism."
Had the state provided better roads, connectivity and infrastructure, tourists from all over the world would have flooded Himachal, he added.
He appealed to the people to give a chance to the BJP and said the "old" leaders of the Congress party in the state should now retire and spend time with their children and families in their "luxurious houses".
"Don't burden the old, visionless and corrupt government of the state and vote for the BJP when the election takes place on November 9," Gadkari said.
"The developmental works that have not been done in 50 years, the BJP government will do in just five years," he promised.