Modi takes on Sonia, and Virbhadra in Himachal.
BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today launched another round of attack on Congress vice president Sonia Gandhi and Virbhadra besides focussing on the future roadmap of Himachal Pradesh at a rally in Hamirpur in the state.
"Among the other things Madam (Sonia Gandhi) said, she questioned our statue of unity but says next election will be fought on unity. The nation knows very well who is sowing the seeds of poison. This politics of hatred and untouchability is not good for a democracy. Congress is a dynastic party and this is the opposite of being a democratic party," Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said in Hamipur. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. PTI Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
He then said, "To develop and rid the country from corruption you need a wholesome approach. People who are used to accounting are not the best people to do it. And for whom should I be corrupt. I have no family. This mind and body is totally devoted to the nation," Modi said indirectly aiming the jibe on Kejriwal. In course of his address, the Gujarat chief minister also took on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. The Himachal Pradesh chief minister has been in the news of and on for alleged financial irregularities during his stint as the country's Union steel minister.
"If we need freedom from corruption we need freedom from the corrupt. Congress leader and Himachal Pradesh chief minister said his assets have risen 14 times and this was written in his affidavit. The prime minister says money does not grow on trees but your own chief minister became 14 times richer after money from trees," Modi said. "Yesterday one leader asked how many BJP leaders are in jail. I ask him to see what their telecom ministers did. Till when will the Congress keep saving itself? The root cause of corruption in this nation is the Congress party. If Congressmen are not corrupt then what is their worry in getting black money back? Black money stashed abroad belongs to the people of India. These people have looted poor and put money there," he said. Continuing his offence on the Congress party, the BJP prime ministerial candidate said,
"Congress leaders are going across the nation talking about greats of past but what about price rise. Congress leaders are not willing to tell the people that we were unable to bring down prices despite promising to. Congress arrogance is sky high and due to that they are not willing to answer the people." Not stopping there, Modi said, "I want to ask you if you have any faith in the Congress government. Do you trust their leaders, their promises and what they say? If not then why do you tolerate them? This is perhaps the first government which is not trusted by the people. Governments need trust of people to function."
The BJP prime ministerial candidate also spelled out his agenda for developing the hill state but not without making regular attacks on the Centre. "We need a paradigm shift for our development journey. We will need to change our perspective of looking at things. Solutions in one place cannot be used in other places. We need to understand issues and then solve them. By calling chief ministers' meets and asking chief ministers to speak for 10 minutes will not help. The prime minister must come to the Himayalan states and sit with chief ministers," Modi said. "BJP will give special focus to the development of the Himalayan states. What did not happen in these states for 60 years will happen in 60 months, I assure you. You will see the change. First and foremost we need to bring those ahead who have been left out of the development journey. For Himachal Pradesh's development we need to give the youth jobs and need to promote tourism," he said. The Gujarat chief minister also took on the Centre for allegedly neglecting Himachal Pradesh's railway network. "Rail connectivity in the hill areas has been important even from tourism point of view. Sadly we have not thought on those lines. Such a small state but the time is spent in bus tragedies. Should Himachal not get a good rail network? Railway is an asset for our nation we can give new strength to our development but in Delhi things are sad, there is no vision," Modi said.
The BJP prime ministerial candidate not only welcomed former soldiers from the state who have joined the party but also saluted the brave contribution in the military by the troops and officers of Himachal Pradesh. "I welcome all the brave retired soldiers who have joined the BJP. There is nothing like membership in the BJP. We have a relationship of blood and a relation for generations. I have seen soldiers at the battlefield. When Kargil happened we had gone there, we saw the soldiers fighting bravely. It is time we bravely stand up to our neighbours unlike the present Central government. Will you accept other nations bullying us? Do we want to get bullied like this?" Modi asked.
