Launching an attack on the ruling CPI(M) in West Bengal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the party of “grabbing” crores of rupees from central funds meant for the uplift of the poor and downtrodden.

“UPA government is sending crores of rupees to the state under different schemes, including NREGA, but the fund is being siphoned off and going to the CPI(M) coffers. This has been going on for 33 years,” he told a Youth Congress rally at the Shahid Mindar maidan in Kolkata on Monday.

In a hard-hitting speech, he said, “Under the CPI(M) rule, there are two Bengals. One is for CPI(M) which is shining and the second is for you — the Bengal of the poor (Aapka Hamara aur Garibo ka Bengal).”

Gandhi’s brief speech, mostly confined to CPI(M) bashing, was applauded by the crowd frequently.

In his first ever public rally in the city, the AICC General Secretary said 45 percent of the people in the state have no ration cards.