Congress president Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tura district on Tuesday, 20 February.

The 47-year-old Congress leader addressed three rallies in the state on the first day fo his two-day visit to the state. Addressing a massive gathering at a Jan Sampark programme in poll-bound Meghalaya, Gandhi took a dig at Modi by demanding that the PM bring back Nirav Modi in one of his foreign trips.

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”I would like to request (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji, on behalf of all of us, to bring back the other Modiji, when he goes on another of his many foreign trips,” he said.

My heartfelt thank you to Shri. Rahul Gandhi Ji for his enthralling presence in Meghalaya today. Enthused by his humility and how he exhorted us all to be proud of our identity. Hope to see you all join him in the roadshow in large numbers tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/f9AIXyXyfr

— Mukul Sangma (@mukulsangma) February 20, 2018

The 47-year-old Congress leader also accused the BJP of trying to “buy God” referring to the Rs 70-crore project announced by Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons for the beautification of churches and religious institutions of Meghalaya under the larger Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

“In their (BJP’s) arrogance, they think that they can buy god,” Gandhi said.

Speaking in North Garo Hills at Mendipathar earlier Gandhi reportedly alleged that there has been a ”tremendous increase” in the discrimination towards and humiliation of the people from northeast, Gandhi claimed that an RSS leader and a minister had “offered crores of rupees to the Church”.

He also accused the BJP of buying some members of his party and said that the saffron party has “lots of money as some of the richest Indians, including perhaps those who have run away with money stolen from Indian banks, are their supporters”.

Hailing Meghalaya as a model state, Gandhi said that the Congress government under Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has been able to bring stability, good governance, peace and development.

Gandhi exhorted the people not to vote for BJP or its “B-team”, the National People’s Party (NPP) headed by Lok Sabha member Conrad Sangma.

He also interacted with the people of Meghalaya as well as BSF personnel at Tura.

The event was also attended by Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and AICC general secretary CP Joshi.  Gandhi will address a rally in the Jaintia Hills scheduled on the last day of his visit.

Voting is scheduled in Meghalaya on 27 February for the 27-member Assembly. Results will be announced on 3 March.

(With inputs from agencies.)