By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Monday, while castigating Congress for indulging in vote bank politics in last more than 60 years, said that the party following divide and rule has pitted brother against brother, communities, sects against each other to cling to power.
However, in the 21st century, Modi said, the era of vote bank politics has ended and now it is politics of development which the BJP governments have adopted and can be seen in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh by one and all. He stated that BJP’s policy is “Sabke Saath Sabka Vikas”. He explained that if any part of a human body remains weak then the person cannot be called healthy and developed. Such is the case with the nation that by leaving any group behind India cannot become a developed and prosperous country, Modi pleaded.
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Modi was in Madhya Pradesh on a day-long whirlwind election tour of the state wherein he addressed four public meetings in the state at Chhatarpur, Sagar, Guna and lastly state capital Bhopal tonight. The state is scheduled to go to polls on November 25. The public meeting was poorly attended with a crowd of just a few thousand at Dussehra ground which has capacity of nearly 40,000 or so. The assemblage was also was not very enthusiastic as compared to BJP’s “Karyakarta Mahakumbh” held in Bhopal on September 25 last when several lakh party activists were in attendance.
While praising Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to the hilt for the development in the state, Modi launched a tirade against the Congress-led UPA Government at the centre for giving a go by to development. He said: “Congress Ka Ahankar Satve Aasmaan par Hai Aur Desh Ko Apne Jageer Samajhti Hai. Usko Desh Ke Logon Ki Taraquee Ke Bare Mein Sochne Ka Waqt Hi Nahin Hai Kyonke Who Kursi Bachane Ya Cheeene Mein Lagi rahti hai (The arrogance of Congress is on the seventh cloud, they consider this country their property. They do not have time to even think for the development of the people of this country as they are either busy protecting their throne or grabbing others.)”
At Chhatarpur Modi reportedly said that the Congress lacked courage to speak about development. He challenged Sonia and Rahul to debate with him on development. "I challenge 'Madamji' and 'Shahzada' to talk on development...If you want to fight the BJP, you should talk about development," Modi said.
Asserting that the Congress will be defeated in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Modi made a pitch for the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in the state. "I congratulate Shivraj and his team. He covered the state, went to villages and told people what he did," the Gujarat chief minister said.
"Just imagine if BJP is in power in both Madhya Pradesh and at the Centre, they you will have 'ladoos' in both of your hands," Modi said to the crowd.
Taking on Congress for its attacks on the BJP, Modi said: If you say we are thieves, we accept we are thieves. We have stolen the sleep of the entire Congress party."
While taking on the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Modi said he should not blame BJP but people close to him for lowering the levels of politics. "PM says BJP lowered the levels of political discourse..Dear PM, those sitting close to you have lowered the dignity of your office by calling your decision as 'nonsense'," Modi said while raking up Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's 'nonsense remarks' who had rubbished an ordinance protecting convicted lawmakers.
It is the vice-president of your party who called your decision nonsense in front of media, not us. "If you can't target those who inflict wounds on you then at least don't blame us," Modi said to Singh.
Modi also attacked Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister CM Digvijaya Singh, calling him the "chief of a lie manufacturing factory".
"One loud-mouthed leader of the Congress ruled the state. These days, he is busy in a new business-a lie manufacturing factory. He is the chairman of the factory. He keeps saying anything, anywhere and when he gets exposed, he is not even ashamed of his words." He accused Digvijaya Singh of destroying the state in his 10-year tenure as CM.