Attacking the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma expressed doubt as to whether Modi will be able to bring any new technology or trade if he is elected the prime minister of India. Addressing the media at the Congress Bhawan on Wednesday, Sharma spoke of various national issues and avoided State-specific issues, stating that the Parliamentary elections were national elections.
At the Press meet, Sharma kept his focus on accusing the BJP and Modi of falsehood and defending the UPA Government citing its “achievements”. He said that the lok Sabha election 2014 was of special importance for the nation as this election was between two ideologies. "The focus in these polls is on national issues, the vision of the ruling party and opposition party, the 10 years of UPA Government and future challenges. Congress possesses the Indian identity of diversity, secularism and liberalism whereas the RSS and BJP and communal and narrow with their efforts aimed at creating confrontations," he alleged. Referring to the BJP election campaign, Sharma said, "There has been unprecedented publicity with about 80 per cent available advertisement space being occupied by the BJP and its allies. At least `10,000 crore is being spent on this publicity by the BJP which has displayed its awareness of where black money is and how to utilise it. The Gujarat development model has failed and not as is being publicised. However, the voters are wise and will decide for themselves."
Defending the UPA Government, Sharma said that the Congress-led Central government had facilitated development even during a period when there was a global economic crisis. He compared various developmental statistics during the BJP-led NDA Government's term and the UPA's term.
When asked about the validity of Congress criticising the BJP for fighting the polls on the basis of Modi while the Congress itself was fighting the polls in Uttarakhand on the basis of chief minister Harish Rawat, Sharma said that Modi was the prime ministerial candidate, while Rawat was a Chief Minister.