Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of being anti-industrialist but kept silent on closed copper mines of PSU Hindustan Copper Limited, barely a few hundred meters from the site of his election rally in Jharkhand’s Ghatshila on Sunday.

The Prime Ministerm while garnering support for Jamshedpur Lok Sabha BJP candidate Bidyut Mahato (who is eying a third consecutive term from the constituency) at Moubhandar Ground in Ghatshila (under Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat), lashed out at “shehzade” (a term used sarcastically by Narendra Modi for Rahul during poll rallies) for his anti-industrialists statements.

“Industrialists will think 50 times before investing in states ruled by the Congress party, due to the shehzada’s use of Maoist language and anti-industrialist stance aimed at extorting money through innovative methods,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi’s allegations came in the backdrop of Rahul’s recent comments, referring to a speech by Modi in which he had stated that the party received money from “Ambani and Adani”.

“I dare the CMs of Congress and INDIA bloc-ruled states to answer as to whether they agree with the anti-industry and anti-industrialist language of their ‘shehzada’ and see youths migrate to other states for jobs in the absence of investments,” he said.

The copper mines of HCL have been closed in Ghatshila and people allege that no concrete effort has been initiated by the Centre to start the mines which is forcing a large number of youths to migrate to other states for jobs.

Continuing to attack the Congress and its allies for allegedly indulging in dynastic politics, Modi also took a jibe at Sonia Gandhi handing over Rae Bareli seat to his son Rahul instead of allowing a party worker to contest from the seat.

“The Congress ‘shehzada’ rushed to the constituency, stating that “it is my mummy’s seat, even an eight-year-old boy going to school will not say that it was his father’s school even if his father might have studied from the same school. His mother (referring to Sonia Gandhi) said that she is handing over her son to Rae Bareli... She could not find even a single party worker devoted to them... The voters of Rae Bareli in turn are asking her as to where they were when people were in trouble during the Covid pandemic,” Modi said.

On Saturday, Sonia while addressing an election rally in Rae Bareli, her former constituency, had said she was handing over her son to Rae Bareli, adding that “he will not disappoint you”.

Alleging the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance state government of “neck-deep” in corruption, Modi said that Jharkhand is now known for heaps of cash.

“The Congress is the mother of corruption, it has been involved in numerous scams, including the coal and 2G scams... Jharkhand, despite its rich resources, is known for heaps of black money recovered from corrupt leaders. They did not even spare the Army and usurped its land... former Jharkhand CM (referring to Hemant Soren) is rotting in jail for corruption,” Modi said.

Modi announced that he was taking legal consultation on returning the “recovered looted public money” from the corrupt leaders and returning it to the poor to whom the funds belong.

The PM also alleged that the Jharkhand government was creating hurdles in the way of the proposed Dhalbhumgarh airport in the East Singhbhum district.

Former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das had performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed airport during the BJP double engine sarkar on January 24, 2019, and an agreement was inked between the state government and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) touted as providing air connectivity for the industrial city of Jharkhand. However, local officials alleged that land is yet to get forest clearance as the FRA with the villagers to be displaced by the airport is yet to be done by the government.

“Prime Minister’s speech shows his sincerity for industries and providing jobs to youths. His silence on opening of copper mines which is leading to distress among local youths and blaming the current state government for Dhalbhumgarh Airport even though the erstwhile BJP government did the groundbreaking without completing the basic documentations showcases his lies,” said JMM central committee, leader of East Singhbhum Mahabir Murmu.