An all-out political war broke out before the crucial seventh phase of the nine-phase lok Sabha polls with the UPA’s former ally the Trinamool Congress, the National Conference and the Congress joining hands in unleashing a scathing attack on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
A day after the TMC stirred up a hornets’ nest by calling Modi the “Butcher of Gujarat,” party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee on Monday fired a fresh salvo by terming Modi a “devil” and a “dangerous man”.
In a related development, late in the evening, the Election Commission sought a CD and transcript of Modi’s attack on Mamata after TMC’s complaint to the poll panel for doubting Mamata’s integrity over the sale of her paintings. It also demanded a public apology from Modi.
Mamata unleashed a vitriolic attack against Modi, saying the country will be “ruined” and plunged into darkness if he comes to power, a day after a furious Trinamool Congress (TMC), slammed him as the “Butcher of Gujarat”.
“If he (Modi) comes to power, India will plunge into darkness. We do not need a lecture on development from the architect of riots,” Mamata said on Twitter amid signs that the TMC may not forge any post-poll alliance with the BJP.
Responding to Modi’s allegation that she was indulging in vote bank politics by ignoring non-Bengalis and spreading the red carpet for Bangladeshis, Mamata accused Modi of being ignorant of history. Pointing out that Bangladeshi immigrants came to India under the Indira-Mujib agreement of 1971, she said: “Mr Modi does not know history. He does not know that speaking in Bangla does not make one a Bangladeshi.”
The ruling party in West Bengal asked how could someone with “blood-stained” hands make personal attacks against the Chief Minister and raise questions about her sincerity. “Either he has to prove this (charges on sale of paintings) or apologise publicly for this. Otherwise we will file a defamation case against him,” TMC general secretary Mukul Roy said in Kolkata.
At a rally in Sreerampore on Sunday, Modi said Mamata’s paintings used to be sold for Rs4 lakh, Rs8 lakh or Rs15 lakh at the most, but one of the CM’s paintings was sold for Rs1.80 crore. He added that he wanted to know the credentials of the purchaser of the painting.
The Congress appeared to back the TMC over the “butcher of Gujarat” title for Modi, saying though it did not subscribe to the use of the phraseology; the intent behind it was true. “While we have always advocated the use of temperate language against our worst political opponents, we do not subscribe to the use of the phraseology by Derek O’Brien, but one has to pierce the veil of words and see his intention,” party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said at AICC briefing on Monday.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh also waded into the row between the BJP and TMC and said there is nothing new about Modi’s tactic of making baseless allegations and taking cheap pot-shots. “Mamata is his latest victim, we are so used to his crudity!” he tweeted.
In his turn of scathing remarks against Modi, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he and his family did not need a certificate on secularism from Modi and reminded him that the Kashmiri Pandit exodus took place when Jagmohan was Governor in the Valley during the regime of a BJP-backed VP Singh Government at the Centre.
“When Kashmiri Pandits left the Valley, Jagmohan, who has not parted ways with the BJP yet, as far as I know, was ruling the State as Governor. Farooq Sahib was not in power. Jagmohan was appointed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (now PDP patron), who was the Home Minister in the VP Singh Cabinet. VP Singh was heading the Government with the BJP’s support.... I hope they (BJP leaders) remember this,” Omar said.However, Farooq on Monday at a rally said he had nothing against Narendra Modi as a person but was apprehensive about his agenda with regard to Jammu & Kashmir and the Muslims. Meanwhile, in Bathinda in Punjab, Rahul Gandhi accused Modi of being discourteous to his opponents.
Rahul also said that the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate sought to give an impression that development in Gujarat was his “personal” achievement and seemed oblivious to the efforts of millions of people, including women who made the Amul brand a success.
“You listen to his speech (Modi). You listen to mine. You (Punjab) gave us Prime Minister. You see his (PM) speeches during the last ten years, Sonia’s (Gandhi) speeches, Congress leaders’ speeches, all talk with love and respect.
“Even if we talk about them, (opponents), we talk with love and respect. We never use harsh words and angry tone. But wherever they (opponents) go, they cannot speak any good, nor can they do any good for others,” he said addressing a rally in favour of Congress candidate Manpreet Singh Badal. Keeping Modi at the centre of his attack, Rahul the BJP tries to portray as if nothing was happening in Gujarat for the last 60 years.
“Gujaratis built it (the State). Women of Gujarat gave the Amul brand. Gujaratis and Punjabis are known for their hard work. But (according to opponents) you did nothing. For the last 60 years, people of India did nothing,” Rahul said.
“Now Modi is coming and he says he will do everything, he has built Gujarat and now he says he will build the country. He (Modi) boasts before thousands of people that I built Gujarat. He does not feel the need to ask anybody as if he has all the knowledge,” he said.