Nation will decide whether to support abusers of power or challengers: Modi

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Monday said the nation's citizens would decide in the 2014 elections whether to vote for and support abusers of power, or those leaders who have stood up to challenge the existing system, and seek answers for all that is being done wrong in the name of governance.

Addressing a rally here, Modi, who is also the chief minister of Gujarat, said: "It is certain now that in 2014, there will be a change. We (BJP and NDA) will form the next government."

"There is a Delhi-based group (Congress headquarters) that criticizes my style of speaking. I am not and will never be a part of this elite club. I come from a non-elite family. Just imagine how much Madhya Pradesh will progress if it happens," Modi added.

"The people of the country will decide whether they want to accept abusers of power, or those challenging and warning those in power," thje Gujarat chief minister said.

"I know the Delhi club very well. But, Iwill never want to be a part of it, because I am not elite. I come from the village," Modi said

Referring to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's very public rubbishing of the government's ordinance on convicted lawmakers, which embarrassed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was then on a official visit to the United States, Modi metaphorically asked Dr. Singh: "When you were in the United States, who slapped you? Who injured your feelings? You can't say anything about him (referring to Rahul Gandhi), we know it."

It maybe recalled that Gandhi had asked media:"Is there ever a right time to speak the truth?"If you choose a right time to speak the truth, then it becomes a lie."

The Congress vice-president called the ordinance to shield convicted lawmakers "complete nonsense", and said that if he was asked for his personal opinion on it, he would say it should be "torn up and thrown away".

That statement created a political storm that saw the government withdrawing it immediately after Prime Minister Singh's return from the United States, where he had gone to address the 68th U.N. General Assembly session and to have a summit meeting with President Barack Obama.