No substance in Sonia's speech: Modi

Gujarat Chief minister Narendra Modi once again hit out at Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday by saying that her speech in Rajkot yesterday lacked substance. He also came down heavily on Congress party and accused them of cheating the people of Gujarat.

Modi was speaking at Swamin Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra in Dahod district.

"Soniaji's speech contained nothing that is why newspapers carried only her photographs," the chief minister said. He also assured the people that after Gandhi's visit to Rajkot on Wednesday, BJP's victory there was inevitable. "Earlier Soniaji visited Chhota Udepur, Congress lost there and yesterday she visited Rajkot. So now BJP will win all seats there," he claimed.

He further claimed that it was because the Congress was 'afraid' that the people would give them a fitting reply, Gandhi did not say anything. Modi also expressed surprised over Gandhi's silence over the rising prices under the UPA rule, saying that Congress president could have spoken a few words of sympathy on the issue.

On Wednesday Gandhi while flagging off state Congress's election campaign for Gujarat Assembly elections had attacked chief minister Narendra Modi and the BJP over various issues including the development of Gujarat, but refrained from commenting on the controversial issue of expenses incurred on her foreign trips. She had further claimed that state government was misleading people about Center's contribution to Gujarat's development and other policies of the Union, because of which people are not able to see a clear picture.

Taking a jibe at the Congress-led government in the Center, Modi said Congress has not lived up to its promises. "Congress is trying to cheat the people of Gujarat, but they won't forgive them. The Congress promised to bring prices down in 100 days of assuming power in 2009 but that has not happened. Also, the Congress promised one crore jobs to people in 2009 but even that has not happened," he added. On the other hand, Modi said Gujarat government was standing as guarantor for its youngsters if they want to start a new venture.

He came down heavily on the UPA for the record alleged corruption in the coal scam. He further expressed confidence the BJP would get another opportunity to serve the people of Gujarat.

In his speech Modi spoke at length about the development initiatives for the tribal community in the state especially the new initiatives by the government in agriculture and animal rearing.