AHMEDABAD: In a veiled attack on Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said that it is a shame that people still visit homes of the poor for a photo-op.

Modi also held Congress responsible for poverty in the country, "despite its over 50 years of rule."

He said this during his Independence Day address in Nadiad on Monday.

"In this country, even today, there exist people, who feel happy to have a photo-op with the poor. They feel proud to get their pictures clicked with children of poor in their hands," Modi said in his address at the SRPF ground in Nadiad, Kheda.

"They should die of shame as even after over 50 years of their rule in the country, so many people are living below poverty line. These are monuments of your rule. This is your shame. They are even ready to capitalise on this," Modi slammed the Congress party without naming any of its leaders or Rahul Gandhi.

Modi also attacked the Union government for using constitutional bodies to insult Gujarat.

The Gujarat chief minister also challenged the anti-Gujarat forces to try and stop the development of the state.

On Sunday, Modi had criticised the Union government for adopting double standards with regard to fight against corruption led by social activist Anna Hazare.

"Look at the double standards of Delhi's Congress government, open your eyes to the larger conspiracy!" he said on the micro-blogging networking site Twitter on Sunday.

"PM tells Anna (Hazare) to go to police for any complaint...Disciplined behaviour is expected from Anna while to the officers of Gujarat police, who are indulging in indiscipline, the message of the Congress government is 'do not worry we will protect you'," Modi tweeted.