Modi targets Rahul at rally

Unleashing a scathing attack on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for “disrespecting” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by undermining his authority (referring to Mr Gandhi’s public denunciation of the ordinance on convicted legislators), BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday asked the people and UPA allies to decide if they wanted the country to be run under democratic norms based on the Constitution or the whims of a “shehzada (prince)”, in another reference to young Mr Gandhi. The Gujarat chief minister exhorted people to bring the BJP’s “dream team” to power in Delhi, rather than a “dirty team”, alleging that the Congress was “addicted to corruption”. While castigating Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif for allegedly calling the Indian PM a “dehati aurat (village woman)”, thus insulting both Dr Singh and India, in the same breath he also attacked Dr Singh for “pleading” before the US President that he comes from a “poor nation”, and questioned him on whether he has the courage to tell his Pakistani counterpart to stop cross-border terrorism. In another jibe at Dr Singh over his “ability to speak”, Mr Modi said the country doubted that the PM would either speak strongly on cross-border terrorism or “get back the head” of Indian soldiers (beheaded by Pakistani troops) or ensure the “return of PoK”. Attacking the Manmohan Singh government, he alleged that the “UPA coalition is headed by a sardar, but he is not ‘asardar’ (effective)”. Addressing the Delhi BJP’s mammoth “Vikas Rally” (with the slogan “Badlenge Delhi, Badlenge Bharat”) at Japanese Park in north Delhi’s Rohini area, Mr Modi said Mr Sharif had perhaps mustered the courage to “insult” the Indian PM as Dr Singh’s own party leaders had “shamed” him. He questioned why Indian journalists who had accompanied the PM to the US had not rebutted Mr Sharif when he had tried to “insult” the PM. Mincing no words against the ruling Congress, Mr Modi said dynasty had taken precedence in the ruling party. He said the UPA was busy with “Gandhi bhakti (devotion)” and that in Delhi (the Centre) “maa-bete (mother-son) ki sarkar chalti hai”. He said even the PM had recently declared under whose leadership he would be happy to work, referring to Dr Singh’s remarks on his way back from the G-20 summit in Russia. He said a country can only progress if its government is determined to do so, and assured people that he himself along with his party will do whatever it needed to fulfil their expectations. Mr Modi, who is termed “autocratic” by many, clarified that he was not a “naath (master)” but a “daas (servant)”, saying that he never had nor will ever have the “dream to rule” as he only wanted to “serve” the people. He also mocked Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, saying she had no work to do and kept herself busy in “cutting ribbons”. He also accused her of shirking responsibilities by passing the buck “up or down”. While the BJP itself is desperate to woo new allies to join the NDA fold, Mr Modi urged Congress allies to decide if wanted a government run according to the Constitution and democratic norms or on the whims of a “shehzade”. Playing the governance card, Mr Modi was all praise for the Vajpayee-Advani NDA government for taking the country ahead on the development path. He said while the country got independence, it was yet to get good governance. He claimed the UPA government had failed in all departments where the Centre was directly involved, be it the railways, highways or aviation. “Coalition governments are based on arithmetic, such governments are run on chemistry between allies,” said Mr Modi, adding that the UPA’s allies, though, are “close, but yet very far”. In a jibe at both the PM for “pleading” before the US President and “marketing” India’s poverty, and against Rahul Gandhi’s recently reported remarks on poverty, Mr Modi asked if the poverty Dr Singh mentioned was about “real poverty” or a “state of mind”. Addressing the country’s young people, he said rampant corruption was affecting their future as the Congress was “addicted to corruption” than providing opportunities to the youth. “Its for your own future that the Congress and the UPA should be thrown out,” said Mr Modi, to a lot of applause. He thanked people for helping him reach the position he holds today, saying he had started out by selling tea in railway coaches. Welcomed at the rally with the blowing of conch shells, amid chanting of his name and thunderous applause, Mr Modi made it a point to thank the rain god at the start of his address as it had started drizzling. Mr Modi had to pause twice as the crowd kept chanting his name, and said: “The media has taken note of your enthusiasm.” Even then the crowd continued to chant his name.