Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said there is a “credibility issue” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and people are not accepting the Modi model as they did in the past.

He said the result of the Gujarat Assembly elections were a massive jolt to the BJP. The BJP replied saying the Amethi MP is trying to “enjoy defeat as victory”.

‘Silent on development’

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Gandhi said the BJP did not talk about development during the campaign. When asked about Modi’s statement that the victory is a stamp of approval for economic reforms such as GST, he said: “It is strange because in his poll speeches, he did not talk about development, nor about GST or note ban.” The Congress leader is reportedly planning yet another tour in Gujarat to thank the people for their support.

He said the much publicised Gujarat model of development is hollow from within. “I came to know there (in Gujarat) that people actually do not accept Modiji’s model..

“It was thought that the Congress will not be able to fight the BJP in Gujarat...You saw the results and it has dealt a zabardast jhatka (a massive jolt) to the BJP in the State.”

Gandhi said the result was “very good”. “We lost, but we could have won...but fell short by a small margin.

“A big question has been raised on Modiji’s credibility. Frankly, Modiji has a credibility problem and he will find it very difficult... Because his forces and his organisation are repeating what he is saying. But the country is not listening to that. This, the Gujarat election has shown. In the coming times, you will see this clearly.

“Jay Shah, son of Amit Shah, turned ₹50,000 into ₹80 crore in three months; there has been a scam in Rafale deal — why don’t you talk of that,” Gandhi asked the PM.

Senior BJP leader and HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said Gandhi was “enjoying defeat as victory”. “We (the BJP) won both the State Assembly elections (Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh), and in Gujarat for the sixth time. Actually, this is a jolt for the Congress.

“It seems Rahul is under an illusion and enjoying defeat as victory. This shows his dynastic arrogance, and is an insult to the people’s mandate,” Javadekar said.

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