Congress annoyed that ‘chaiwala’ bringing reforms: Modi

Chandigarh, May 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the Congress was annoyed that a 'chaiwala' was bringing about reforms.

Addressing an election meeting in favour of party's outgoing MP Kirron Kher, Modi said when the middle class was in distress due to inflation, the Congress used to think 'hua to hua'.

Trying to woo the working class of the 'City Beautiful', Modi said: "The Congress has always insulted middle class and honest tax payers, whereas our government has given respect to the middle class. For the first time in history, income tax for salary up to Rs 5 lakh has been made tax-free."

Taking a jibe at Sam Pitroda's controversial remark in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, he said: "The Congress 'naamdaar' (Rahul Gandhi) used to say Congress is an ideology. Now 'naamdaar's guru' (Pitroda) has revealed that the Congress' ideology is 'hua to hua' (it just happened)."

"When inflation was breaking the back of the middle class, the Congress was thinking 'hua to hua'."

Saying that he would fight for justice for the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, he said not all perpetrators of the anti-Sikh riots have been brought to justice yet.

Taking a jibe at Congress candidate and former Railway Minister Pawan Bansal, he said when his relatives were caught in corruption in railway recruitment, the Congress thought "it happened".

Speaking on his government's vision for India's progress, the Prime Minister took credit for "one mobility card as a tool to bring about transparency in governance" and shaping up the International Solar Alliance.

Chandigarh will vote for its lone Lok Sabha seat on May 19.