Narendra Modi takes a dig at Sonia, slams 'misrule' of Cong

Rajkot/Surat, Dec 2:

Chief Minister

had a dig at Congress President

yesterday, alleging the "misrule" of the party led by her will script its "worst-ever" drubbing at the hands of BJP in coming assembly elections.

Embarking on the final leg of his poll campaign after paying obeisance at the famous Somnath temple at Veraval, the BJP stalwart said Congress' own acts "will be its undoing in the polls".

"Madam Sonia, change your disha (direction) as Congress will never reach Gandhinagar. Gujarat's disha is Sardar Patel's disha," Modi said referring to Congress' advertisement campaign based on the theme 'Disha Badlo, Dasha Badlo (Change the direction, change the situation).

Modi launched a bare-knuckle attack on Congress at six rallies he addressed yesterday. "They (Congress) will face their worst-ever defeat in Gujarat. The entire country is being crushed under the sins committed by the central government. The country is facing many problems due to them," he said.

Modi said the "deep-rooted corruption" coupled with Congress' "neglect" of the common man will make it bite the dust in the state where polls will be held in two phases on Dec 13 and 17.

"Congress' misrule, corruption, inflation, and neglect of the common man will result in thumping victory (for BJP) in the state," Modi told reporters after emerging from the historic temple.

Later, addressing public meetings in Saurashtra region and at Surat in South Gujarat, the chief minister said "this election is not about who will be your MLA. It's to decide who will guarantee our youngsters a better future".

Continuing his diatribe against Congress, Modi charged the ruling party at Centre was "expert at cheating". "Congress makes announcements behind the curtains. We do not want this behind-the-curtain cheating", he alleged.

Apparently trying to drive a wedge between between NCP and Congress on the issue of differences between the two parties over sharing of seats, Modi said "Congress-NCP are allies in Delhi and decided to be allies in Gujarat. Congress promised 9 seats to NCP but in the end put up its own candidates in some of those seats. They (Congress) cheat allies. How do you know they won't cheat Gujarat"?

Meanwhile, Modi faced a protest at Katargam when some Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) workers showed black flag to him. They were detained. GPP is founded by former BJP stalwart Keshubhai Patel who is banking on the support of Patel community.

Tearing into Congress for alleged non-fulfilment of poll promises, Modi alleged Congress had no concern with the development process and only believes in divide and rule policy.

"In 2009 general elections, Congress had promised to bring down inflation in 100 days if it comes to power. But it has failed to do so even after more than three years" he said.

Modi claimed people of Gujarat have "buried" Congress' vote-bank politics and adopted BJP's development path.

Referring to Congress' allegation that his government has allotted huge tracts of arable land for industry, Modi said "in my eleven-year tenure as chief minister, only four per cent of grazing land has been given for industrial purpose while Congress, between 1980 to 1985, allotted 93 per cent grazing land in South Gujarat for the same".

Lashing out at Congress for allegedly using photos of a malnourished child from Sri Lanka in its advertisement, Modi said "this shows Congress has decided to defame the state at any cost".

PTI