Modi misleading people with exaggerated claims: Sonia

Amreli, Gujarat, Dec 8 (UNI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi in her third leg of campaigning for the Gujarat Assembly polls today said the much touted ''Sujalam Sufalam'' project reeked of corruption.

Addressing a public meeting here, she said the so-called fast paced development, being touted by the BJP government as a benchmark for progress, was just to mislead the people and grossly exaggerated. Many of the sub-canal projects of the Narmada project had not been completed and some were yet to take off, she added.

Asserting that people cannot be fooled by such tall claims of development, Ms Gandhi said the BJP Government was misleading the people of Gujarat by showcasing development of certain sections of society as a growth of the whole state. ''Yet the people are looking for a change,'' she added.

Accusing the BJP of possessing an unsecular mindset, she said the terrorism could be fought and defeated through social harmoney and unity. ''Congress has always reaffirmed its commitment to secular values and the fundamental principles of the Constitution,'' she said.

Ms Gandhi asked the people not to fall prey to false promises of the BJP and vote the Congress to power in the state for its all round development.

Countering Chief Minister Narendra Modi's allegation that the Congress was soft on terrorism, Ms Gandhi said, ''Congress never relented in its fight against terrorists or terrorism. In fact it was the Congress which has shed blood in fighting these elements to maintain integrity of the nation.'' She referred to the sacrifice made by late Indira Gandhi.

Referring to the Kandahar hijack issue, Ms Gandhi said though Mr Modi talked a lot about terrorism, his very same saffron government earlier had let off a dangerous terrorist by escorting him to the soil of Afghanistan after treating him as a VIP guest in the jail.

UNI