Advani flays Sonia, PM for derogatory remarks on Modi

Jaipur, Dec 8 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani today criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for making ''derogatory utterances'' against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing a rally here today on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of installation of the Vasundhara Raje Government in Rajasthan, Mr Advani said it was highly deplorable that those responsible for ''protecting terrorists-the real merchants of death (maut ke saudadar)'' were terming Mr Modi as ''maut ka saudagar''.

He was referring to Ms Gandhi's speeches during her election tours in Gujarat in which she had allegedly termed Mr Modi as ''maut ka saudagar'', Mr Advani said her party and government was employing a soft policy against real merchants of deaths, including Parliament Attack case convict Mohammad Afzal.

He said Dr Singh also used derogatory language against Mr Modi.

''The people of the country particularly Gujarat knew the reality and they would not be misguided by such speeches,'' he added.

UNI