(HT)
Urging BJP workers to oust the ruling Congress in the 2014 general elections, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed the central government for not keeping the nation's interest in mind.
Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) two-day national council meet which started in Delhi on Sunday, Modi launched a direct attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family, saying it kept its own interests above the nation.
"The country is sinking. The poor are under the burden of price rise. We cannot even feel if there is a government at the centre or not," Modi, possible contender for the prime ministerial post, said.
"The Congress has ruled the country for several decades. At that time there was no opposition, the media was not so strong and there were not so many activists. But what did the Congress do? At that time many countries were trying to rise. India lagged behind. Why? Because they (Congress) never wanted the country to develop," Modi said.
Without naming any one, he launched a direct attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family, vis-a-vis Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi: "Sacrificing the national interest for the interest of one family is the tradition of the Congress," he said.
"They appointed a night watchman by naming Manmohan Singh as prime minister. Had Pranab Mukherjee been prime minister, there would have been less destruction in the country," Modi said.
"Had Pranab been successful, what would have happened to the family?" Modi said.
"Freeing the nation from the Congress rule would be an act of patriotism. It would be a task as great as that our freedom fighters did," Modi said.
He stressed on the need of inculcating hope and aspirations in people, saying that a BJP-led government at the centre would act as a facilitator for those aspirations.
Praising the BJP and focussing on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Modi said that the BJP was the only alternative for the Congress "misrule".
"The Congress has spread like termites in the country. It is very difficult to get rid of termites. Only one medicine will work, that of the sweat of the BJP worker," Modi said.
Modi, who is being projected by some in BJP as its Prime Ministerial face for 2014 elections, on Sunday asked his party cadres to work hard to present an alternative to the UPA government.
Against the backdrop of the demands for his projection as the party's PM candidate, Modi sought to play down the issue.
"Who is the person, or who is the candidate, it does not matter in the BJP," Modi said in his speech.
"People of the country have decided to dislodge (the present dispensation)...We have to see how much we can contribute towards that. Believe me, Congress cannot escape under any cirumstances. For the country, we will have to present an alternative," Modi said.
Modi said that BJP governments were working for the development of the states while accusing Congress of having no intention to develop the country.
He also attacked Congress on the issue of corruption and alleged that commissions were paid whether it was the case of helicopter purchase or spectrum allocation. Comparing the performance of both the parties, he said it appears that "BJP is with a mission and Congress is for commission."
Modi also alleged Congress was not promoting the development of a strong leadership.
He said that inflation had hit the common people but the government at the Centre was "unresponsive". Those sitting in Delhi should look at what the BJP governments in states like Gujarat, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh were doing to ensure development and welfare of the people, he said.
Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) two-day national council meet which started in Delhi on Sunday, Modi launched a direct attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family, saying it kept its own interests above the nation."The country is sinking. The poor are under the burden of price rise. We cannot even feel if there is a government at the centre or not," Modi, possible contender for the prime ministerial post, said.
"The Congress has ruled the country for several decades. At that time there was no opposition, the media was not so strong and there were not so many activists. But what did the Congress do? At that time many countries were trying to rise. India lagged behind. Why? Because they (Congress) never wanted the country to develop," Modi said.
Without naming any one, he launched a direct attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family, vis-a-vis Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi: "Sacrificing the national interest for the interest of one family is the tradition of the Congress," he said.
"They appointed a night watchman by naming Manmohan Singh as prime minister. Had Pranab Mukherjee been prime minister, there would have been less destruction in the country," Modi said.
"Had Pranab been successful, what would have happened to the family?" Modi said.
"Freeing the nation from the Congress rule would be an act of patriotism. It would be a task as great as that our freedom fighters did," Modi said.
He stressed on the need of inculcating hope and aspirations in people, saying that a BJP-led government at the centre would act as a facilitator for those aspirations.
Praising the BJP and focussing on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Modi said that the BJP was the only alternative for the Congress "misrule".
"The Congress has spread like termites in the country. It is very difficult to get rid of termites. Only one medicine will work, that of the sweat of the BJP worker," Modi said.
Modi, who is being projected by some in BJP as its Prime Ministerial face for 2014 elections, on Sunday asked his party cadres to work hard to present an alternative to the UPA government.
Against the backdrop of the demands for his projection as the party's PM candidate, Modi sought to play down the issue.
"Who is the person, or who is the candidate, it does not matter in the BJP," Modi said in his speech.
"People of the country have decided to dislodge (the present dispensation)...We have to see how much we can contribute towards that. Believe me, Congress cannot escape under any cirumstances. For the country, we will have to present an alternative," Modi said.
Modi said that BJP governments were working for the development of the states while accusing Congress of having no intention to develop the country.
He also attacked Congress on the issue of corruption and alleged that commissions were paid whether it was the case of helicopter purchase or spectrum allocation. Comparing the performance of both the parties, he said it appears that "BJP is with a mission and Congress is for commission."
Modi also alleged Congress was not promoting the development of a strong leadership.
He said that inflation had hit the common people but the government at the Centre was "unresponsive". Those sitting in Delhi should look at what the BJP governments in states like Gujarat, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh were doing to ensure development and welfare of the people, he said.
