'Modiji's friends' have caused pollution in Gujarat: Rahul Gandhi

Ahead of the next month's Assembly elections in Gujarat, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who is on the first day of his two-day campaign tour of Gujarat, on Friday addressed farmers at the coastal town of Porbandar.

The Congress vice-president alleged that because of the pollution caused by 10-15 industrialists, who were "Modiji's friends", the fishermen were forced to venture deep into the sea.

"I have learnt that now you have to go deeper into the sea to catch fish. Why? Because of pollution. But, who caused this? Definitely not the fishermen. It was caused by some 10- 15 industrialists who are Modiji's friends...He took all your money and gave it to those 10-15 persons," he alleged.

Rahul Gandhi added that instead of doing anything concrete for the fishermen, Modi has gifted ports to "some of his industrialist friends".

He also criticised the BJP-led government in Gujarat for stopping the Rs 300 crore subsidy that the Congress government gave to fishermen to buy diesel for their boats, and claimed that on the other hand, during Narendra Modi's tenure as chief minister, the Gujarat government gave away Rs 33,000 crore to Tata Motors for its Nano car plant.

"When Congress was in power, fishermen used to get 25 per cent subsidy on the purchase of diesel. That subsidy, which was just Rs 300 crore (per annum), has been abolished by the BJP government here. What kind of magic is this? They can give Rs 33,000 crore for Nano factory but they can't give Rs 300 crore to you," he asked.

Rahul Gandhi also promised to create a separate ministry for fisheries if the party came to power at the Centre.

"Fishermen's work is equivalent to that of farmers. Sometime back, you demanded that if there is a ministry to look after the agriculture sector, then why not for fishermen? I agree with you, and I promise that the Congress will set it up after forming the government at the Centre," Rahul Gandhi said.

Taking a jibe at Modi's radio programme 'Mann ki Baat', the Congress leader promised that the doors of Congress government will be opened once the party comes to power in Gujarat.

He expressed confidence that the Congress will emerge victorious in the state, where the party has been out of power for 22 years.

"I am confident that the Congress will win this election. After that, doors of the Chief Minister's Office and the Assembly will be opened for you, so that you can tell us your 'mann ki baat'. Till now, those doors were open only for the rich, and only their voice was heard. Your voice never reached the government," he alleged.

Rahul Gandhi will interact with Dalits, doctors, teachers and villagers during his two-day visit which covers Porbandar, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Arvalli, Mahisagar and Dahod districts.

Polling for the two-phase elections in the state, having a total of 182 seats, will take place on December 9 and 14.

Counting of votes will take place on December 18.

Eighty-nine seats of Saurashtra and south Gujarat region are going to polls in the first phase. The remaining 93 seats in the central and northern region will vote in the second phase.

(With inputs from PTI)