Jaipur, Dec 1 (IANS): "Both Congress and its workers, remain confused regarding the caste and religion of their party president Rahul Gandhi," said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj while addressing a press conference here on Saturday.
She said that the Congress worker right now is confused about several issues; first he is confused on the issue of the religion of the party president; further, he is confused on whether the Congress will be able to make an alliance at the national level or not, he also remains confused on the fact whether Gandhi will be accommodated as a member in the grand alliance or not.
"Congress party president Gandhi, since years, was presenting himself as a secular leader. However, as elections approached near, his party men realised that Hindus form a majority in India and hence created his Hindu image," said Swaraj while hitting back at Congress president Rahul Gandhi who questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Hinduism in Udaipur on Saturday.
Sometimes, Gandhi is seen as a Shiv Bhakt and at other times he poses himself as a loyal Hindu; then comes the time when he presents himself as a Janeudhari Brahmin. With elections coming near, he becomes whatever he wants at his own ease; Shaiv, Shakt or Vaishnav.
Such a confused personality now says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi doesn't understand the meaning of being Hindu, she quipped.
"After coming to Udaipur, he quoted the name of Jhansi Ki Rani, but forgot to quote Rani Padmavati. He opines that medicines and education should be made cheaper in the 21st century. But how much did Congress slash the price of these services in its tenure? she asked.
Now, he says he will waive off farmers' loans within 10 days of forming the government. However, the farmers in the states ruled by the Congress are still awaiting the waiver as promised by the party, she added.
Commenting on P Chidambaram's statement that the GDP rate of the country has slowed down under BJP rule, she said that she would like to remind him that in the UPA's tenure, both the IMF and the World Bank had listed the Indian economy under the fragile 5 economies.The country was listed among those economies which were on the decline.
"However, today, both IMF as well as the World Bank have mentioned India as the fastest growing economy," she said.
Under the UPA's tenure, the Congress had an average GDP of 6.7% however, BJP in last three years had attained a GDP of 7.3% and this year, the GDP recorded was 7.4%, she said adding that the state went up to 77th rank in the Ease of Doing business which was earlier 142nd rank under Congress tenure. Even Rajasthan has come out of its Bimaru tag under BJP rule, she added.