Rajiv Shukla mocks Modi's speech, says 'this is negative politics'

Commenting on various issues raised by Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Rewari, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla on Sunday ridiculed his speech, and said that this is clearly negative politics.

"Today's speech of Modi from Rewari was very funny. I was laughing at his speech. He said India should manufacture arms but forgot that in last 50 years Congress has established several arsenals," he said.

Modi who criticized the Congress-led UPA Government over its handling of security issues like incursions by China, the killing of Indian jawans at the border and repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan, said that the problem is not at the border but with the Centre.

"What do he want? War with China and Pakistan? He should say it openly because we have taken all other steps. It's a clear political propaganda. This is clearly a negative politics by him," Rajiv Shukla added.

Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad said that there has been no progress in Gujarat after six years of BJP's rule.

"Even after BJP's six terms, there is no development in Gujarat. Gujarat is behind Haryana in all aspects. Gujarat ranked 11th in infrastructure and 17th in health sector. There hadn't been any progress in Gujarat since six years of BJP rule," he said.

Modi, who was speaking at a rally in Rewari largely of ex-serviceman here, said: "Vote bank politics in India has become disgusting. If politicians have to learn secularism, look at the Indian Army. There is no greater example of Indian secularism."

He also questioned the policy to import weapons for the defence forces and said that India should dream of making and exporting weapons to other countries.

"Most of the budget of the Army goes towards importing cheap munitions. We are a country of 1.2 billion with the capability of launching its own missiles, but we import the smallest of things. We should dream that we would have the capability of developing our defense industries and become exporters," he said.