Firing a fresh salvo at the Congress, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday charged that Sonia Gandhi’s “blind love” towards her son Rahul Gandhi had left the country in “ruins”.
He also said the UPA Government’s 10-year rule was “remote-controlled” by her and the country had been looted.
“Madam Sonia kept Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the PM’s chair till her son Rahul got administrative knowledge, hoping that Rahul may be future PM of India,” Modi remarked.
Referring to the book ‘The Accidental Prime Minister -- The Making and Unmaking Of Manmohan Singh’ by the PM’s former media adviser Sanjaya Baru, Modi spoke about the casualties that accidents -- involving scooters, trains or aircraft -- would cause. “...but with an accidental Prime Minister, 125 crore people will die and future of our youth will get immersed in darkness,” he said.
Stating that the UPA Government’s 10-year rule had failed to fulfil the aspirations of the people, he asked the audience in Haveri what type of government they wanted. “You want a remote-controlled and hospitalised government like the Congress,” he asked. This was met by loud cries of “Modi’s government, Modi’s government”.
Modi said the Congress has only one agenda of stopping him. “The Congress has no issues to take on the BJP in this election. I do not know why they are upset with the BJP. I think they have a fear of losing this election,” he remarked. Referring to JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda’s reported remark that he would leave Karnataka if Modi is elected Prime Minister, Modi said he would roll out a red carpet if the former PM was ready to come to Gujarat.
“I respect Deve Gowdaji because he is the former PMand a son of the soil. If he is ready to come to Gujarat, I will extend him a hearty invitation and welcome him with open arms,” he said, addressing a huge gathering in Chikmagalur. “As an elderly person, I look up to you as a father. You will be given comfortable shelter if you come to Gujarat,” he remarked.