Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi interacts with people in Shukul Bazar during his visit to Amethi. (Press Trust of India photo)
Rahul Gandhi today promised to replace what he calls a "suit-boot sarkar (government)" with a "kurta pyjama sarkar," asking people to bring back his Congress party to power.
The Congress vice president often uses the phrase "suit boot sarkar" to accuse the BJP-led central government of working to benefit big industry at the cost of the poor and underprivileged. Today he said in his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi, "It's a government for those in suit and boot. I don't see anyone here wearing that, but I promise you that I will ensure that you get a kurta pyjama sarkar that represents you."
The Congress alone could protect the interests of the country, Mr Gandhi said, as he slammed the BJP government over its land acquisition bill. "The Narendra Modi government is working only for the sake of capitalists," the Congress leader alleged.
This is Rahul Gandhi's first visit to his constituency after his party disrupted the entire Monsoon session of Parliament with its demand for the resignation of three top BJP leaders caught in controversies. Mr Gandhi led the protests, making several stringent attacks on PM Modi and his government.
In Amethi today, he credited his Congress with stalling what he calls "anti-farmer" amendments to the law for buying land for big projects, but rued the fact that he has not been able to "meet the aspirations of the people" because his party is not in power.
As he drove through his constituency, Mr Gandhi, 45, delivered the same message wherever he stopped. "It is your duty to strengthen the Congress. The future of the country lies in the hands of Congress," he said.
The Congress posted its worst ever performance in the national election last year, winning only 44 seats in the Lok Sabha, where the BJP along with its allies now has a commanding majority.