VARANASI: Launching a blistering attack on the BJP for its often-repeated description of Manmohan Singh as a weak Prime Minister, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Sunday said disrespect of the PM amounted to disrespect of the entire country.
Addressing an election rally in Varanasi, she questioned the saffron party's slogan of "strong leaders and decisive government".
"The Prime Minister is a leader of the country and not of a party. So, if one disrespects the Prime Minister, he or she disrespects the entire nation," Ms. Gandhi said.
Withount naming BJP leader L K Advani for his criticism of Manmohan Singh as a weak Prime Minister, she said "how can he (Advani) be a strong leader in whose tenure Parliament was attacked and several terrorist attacks took place. Terrorists who were caught were also released..."
"It was an NDA minister who flew with the terrorists to Kandahar and it was these terrorists who stepped up their ante against India," she told another rally in Ballia.
"Today that Home Minister (Advani) is dreaming to become the Prime Minister. Everyone has the freedom and right to dream.
"But the dream of the Congress is to see India on road to development. We see our political success in the success of the youth," the UPA chairperson said.
IANS adds:
Ms. Gandhi mentioned that Gorakhpur was the same place where the then British rulers lodged a case against Jawaharlal Nehru in 1940.
"A case was lodged against him (Nehru) in 1940 after which he was sentenced to an imprisonment for four years. This - the land of Lord Mahavir and Gautam Buddha - has contributed significantly to the freedom of the country," she said.
The Congress chief made it a point to highlight the achievements of the UPA government in her speech at a rally in Salempur region of Deoria district.
"Our government has waved off the loans of 71,000 farmers besides implementing the mid-day meal scheme. Besides, we have done a lot for the education of the people of the country and empowerment of women," she said in her address at Salempur.
"Political parties today are asking for your vote in the name of caste and creed. I would only like to request you to vote for a party that has ensured development in the country," she said.
