Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday, attacked Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi's so called Gujarat model of development and snubbed the Shiromani-Akali-Dal (SAD) for being quiet on the ill-treatment meted out to farmers from Punjab in Gujarat.

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"These days Narendra Modi is selling his Gujarat Model. Do you know that our Sikh brothers and sisters in Gujarat are having their lands taken away by his government, and SAD is an equal facilitator to it. In Gujarat villages people are dying for getting clean drinking water, children upto five years are facing mal-nourishment. 45,000 acre land was given at a throw-away price to one industrialist. It makes one ask the almighty to help save people from such a model propagated by Modi," Sonia remarked.

She stated that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government led by Parkash Singh Badal only knows how to make tall promises and then forget them once they are in power. "The ruling SAD government led by Badal only knows how to make tall promises and then forgets it once they assume power," Sonia Gandhi said at a rally in Barnala. The Congress president listed the funds allocated for the state by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)

"UPA had given a lot of funds for alleviating water scarcity in Malwa. In higher education we have given a central university in Bhatinda. It is because of your MP's effort that Sangrur is going to get a cancer hospital and help those people who are fighting cancer," Sonia added.

Sonia told the people to ask the government how it has utilized the money given by the central government. "Please ask your state government what it has done to the money given by the UPA," Sonia said. She also indicated the different programmes initiated by the prime minister during his tenure of office and assured that more would be coming from the Congress as mentioned in its manifesto.

Sonia Gandhi said that new roads, railway lines and ports were constructed by the UPA II government and steel and energy sectors were increased. 37,000 crores were given to women self-help groups, while 55,000 crores were made available as educational loans.

Sonia Gandhi pointed out that these are few examples of the work done by Manmohan Singh. "We have stated in length about our plans in our manifesto, we have given thrust on employment generation for the youth. Also we have promised right to health at the same time right to shelter for landless poor also finds mention in out manifesto. Small and medium scale investors will also get help. Pension scheme will be initiated for the elderly poor people, poor widows and handicapped, she said.