BJP leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged people to dethrone an ‘arrogant’ Congress regime by democratic method as it has 'ruined and devastated' the country.
Addressing a rally from the Red Fort-shaped dais, dubbed as the biggest-ever gathering in Chhattisgarh's tribal heartland Surguja, Modi unleashed a direct attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for heading an ‘insensitive Government’.
He also took on Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his 'poverty is a state of mind' remark. “The Congress' culture of arrogance is at its peak now. India’s 1.25 billion people are fighting acute poverty and problems while its leaders are busy redefining poverty,” Modi quipped in his 25-minute speech. Each of Modi’s statements against the Congress regime were cheered by massive crowds, which saw a sizeable attendance of women and youth.
Stepping up the attack on the Congress Government at the Centre, Modi observed: “Each and every act of the Congress regime is reflecting its arrogance. The failure of Manmohan Singh has led to an economic downturn. The Rupee has landed in hospital where it is currently battling for life and death.”
He heaped praise on Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh for unleashing a wave of development in the State, which was plagued by backwardness. “There are two Singhs in the country - Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh and Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. Both are doctors, the only difference being Raman Singh is a doctor of 'insaan' (people),” Modi remarked drawing massive cheer.
He hit out at the Central Government for missing the coal files. “Parliament is deliberating where the coal files have gone missing while the people of the country have been deliberating where the Congress regime has gone missing.” He also took on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for making a mockery of people's problems and their poverty.
Without naming the Gandhi scion, Modi remarked, “Congress leaders have lost touch with the public. Some Congress leaders have made slight of people's poverty by saying Rs 5 is enough to have a sustaining meal while one leader (Rahul Gandhi) pulled the biggest gag on the poor by saying 'poverty is a state of mind'.”
Modi further said that “he (Rahul) poured acid on poor people's plight and misery by making 'a state of mind' remark.” Modi urged people to give another chance to Raman Singh in a fledgling Chhattisgarh which has witnessed all-round development during BJP regime since December 2003.
“Chhattisgarh, which is just a 13-year-old, has led from the front in all sectors. Even the Supreme Court has advocated for a need for implementation of Chhattisgarh-like Food Security Scheme in the nation. I personally invited a team of Chhattisgarh officers to Gujarat to study the Chhattisgarh Food Security system and later implemented it in my State,” Modi said.
The rally at Ambikapur was organised by the BJP to mark end of a 6,000 km long Vikas Yatra of Raman Singh in the Assembly-poll bound State. The Vikas Yatra was launched on May 6 from the Maoist-heartland Dantewada and was suspended for a few weeks after several Congress leaders were killed in a deadly attack on May 25.