Narendra Modi Doesn't Understand India; Snoops on Women: Rahul Gandhi

Chandauli: Taking Narendra Modi head on, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today said the BJP's prime ministerial candidate does not understand the strength of India and its people.

"India is for everybody. It is for Hindus, Muslims, Sikh and Christians. It belongs to every caste and community, poor and rich people and it will remain for everybody," Mr Gandhi said at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli.

Referencing snoopgate, or the alleged spying on a woman by officials in Gujarat, Mr Gandhi also advised Mr Modi to change slogans on his posters where it was promised that he would give power to women, as "he was the person sending police after women and tapping their phone in Gujarat."

The Congress vice-president also accused the BJP of following a politics that was "full of anger".

"He (Modi) comes to you and says nothing happened in India for the last 60 years. He asks farmers, workers 'what have you done?'. He says India was sleeping. The US presidents understood that India has risen. Traders, farmers, industrialists, workers have took India forward. India has risen like a tiger and Modi comes to you and says make me Chowkidar. Modi says he will make the difference," Mr Gandhi said.

Earlier in the day, Mr Gandhi targeted Mr Modi on his chosen poll battlefield, Varanasi. "Modi ji please change your poster - say that you will respect women and stop sending the police or tapping phones of women in Gujarat. Don't give them strength, give a little respect," he said, referencing "Snoopgate".

The Congress leader's roadshow and rally in Varanasi, from where Mr Modi is running for Parliament, was designed as payback after the BJP's prime ministerial candidate campaigned in Amethi. (Narendra Modi Brings Battle to Gandhi Doorstep)

Mr Gandhi drove in an open-top car through Varanasi, from where Mr Modi, 63, is running for Parliament.

Congress supporters cheered Mr Gandhi's convoy, throwing rose petals at him.  Like Mr Modi had done weeks ago, the 43-year-old stopped to garland a statue of freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya who founded the Banaras Hindu University. (See Pics)