Congress President Sonia Gandhi today criticized the Modi Model in Gujarat due to which children below five-years of age are mal-nourished and the Punjabis settled there since long are being told to leave.

Addressing a rally in Barnala district of Punjab, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi attacked the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the ally of BJP in the State, for being party to it. She said the Akalis have done nothing to safeguard the interests of Punjabis settled in Gujarat since decades.

The Congress President said may God save our country from such a model under which people are unable to have drinking water and those earning more than 11 rupees are not being treated under BPL family.

She said ever increasing use of drugs in Punjab is ruining the youth of the State. She alleged that when SAD’s own ministers are involved in drug trafficking how can it be controlled.

Mrs. Gandhi said that Dr. Manmohan Singh led UPA government has given lots of funds to Punjab under various schemes meant for the benefit of the people but have not been properly utilized. She said state leaders rather filled their own coffers.