Taking strong objection to the comment of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president and her son Rahul Gandhi have looted the country during the last 10 years, Congress leader Anil Shastri has said, “We cannot expect a true version from such a person whose mental status is not sound. The Congress believes in the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi while the BJP believes in the ideology of Nathuram Godse.”
Speaking to media persons at the Press Club here on Saturday evening, Shastri said, “The BJP is befooling the people in the name of a Modi wave. Its leader Murli Manohar Joshi has already made it clear that there is no Modi wave floating across the country. Modi will lose the election from Varanasi and that’s why he is also contesting from Varodara.”
Responding to a pin-pointed question that why Manmohan Singh was not in the focus of the Congress’ campaigning, the senior Congress leader said that there was no need to bring the Prime Minister in the campaigning.
“Singh took a decision not to be the PM aspirant… he rather decided to get retired after this election… he is right as he crossed 81 years of age, he would be known as a statesman, besides an economist. Rahul Gandhi is leading the campaign and would be the PM, and the Congress will emerge as the single largest party and will lead the UPA- 3,” Shastri said.
He also said that the PM’s former media advisor Sanjay Baru and former coal secretary PC Parakh released their books targeting Dr Singh as part of a conspiracy hitched by the BJP. Shastri admitted that the Congress lagged behind in advertising its achievements during the last 10 years. He also admitted that the price rise may also affect the party’s poll prospects.
“We are seeking a mandate on the achievements of the last 10 years of our rule… we have made revolutionary legislations like MNREGA, RTI, RTE, lokpal Bill, Right to Food, land Acquisition Bill, etc, we would enforce more people-friendly legislations after coming to power,” he counted. He claimed that although the BJP has tried to make corruption as a poll plank, it was the Congress which initiated appropriate action on the charges of corruption leveled against the Maharashtra Chief Minister and the Railway Minister whereas the BJP shielded BS Yeddyurappa.