Shameful that Patel’s statue being made in China: Rahul

Morbi (Gujarat), Sep 26 (IANS) Mocking the Narendra Modi government's "Make in India" programme, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said it was "shameful" that Sardar Patel's iconic statue in the state was being made in China.

"Sardar Patel's statue is also being made in China. It is written `Made in China' behind it. This is shameful," Gandhi said at a rally here.

Modi had last week visited the site of Statue of Unity on Sunday to review the construction.

According to reports, the company contracted by the Gujarat government to built the 182-metre statue has subleased its bronze cladding to a firm in China. Modi, who had launched the project, had sought farm tools from all parts of the country for the statue of unity.

Gandhi termed Gujarat model as "model of lies" and said there was an undercurrent in favour of the Congress ahead of the assembly polls later this year.

Attacking the BJP-led Central government, he said: "They lied so much. They promised to give jobs to 2 crore youth (in the country), deposit Rs 15 lakh in every bank account, give right price to farmers.

"I am happy that in Gujarat there is an undercurrent..People are angry and they have understood that Narendra Modi has cheated the people of Gujarat. They are not openly saying this, they are whispering it in my ears, because they are a bit scared," he added.

Gandhi said "a storm" will emerge before the elections and Congress will come to power.

In his speeches, he also hit out at the Modi government over the police firing at Patidars during their agitation for quotas and said it was not the Congress way.

"We function with love and brotherhood," he said.