Modi makes fun of Delhi CM

BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Sunday mocked Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, saying the Congress leader was an expert in "cutting ribbons" and passing the buck.

Addressing a huge Bharatiya Janata Party rally here, the Gujarat chief minister also denounced the Delhi and central governments for allowing the Commonwealth Games of 2010 to be tainted by corruption.

"The happiest CM in India is Delhi's CM," Modi said, without taking any name but provoking derisive laughter among supporters. "The chief minister has no work other than cutting ribbons.

"If there is a law and order problem in Delhi, all the CM does is to blame it on the central government."

And if the roads were in poor shape, the civic body run by the BJP was blamed, he added.

Modi said the chief minister of Delhi did not have to look after critical areas like agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries -- unlike other chief ministers.

"The chief minister has no responsibility or accountability."

Modi said that after the Dec 16 gang rape in Delhi, "all she (CM) could say was ... I advice women to return home early. That is an advice every mother will give. What are you doing as the CM?"

He criticised the Delhi and central governments for the way the Commonwealth Games were organised in the capital.

While South Korea and China hosted the Olympic Games to "brand" themselves and project their "soft power", India bungled and the Games ended up becoming a major scandal.

He said projecting soft power to brand a country was more important today than showcasing military or economic strength.

"South Korea by hosting the Olympics showed what they are made of. They branded their country through the mega show. China did the same.

"China has already shown their military and economic power, but by hosting Olympics, they showcased their sports power too. They showcased their soft power ... and might," Modi said.

But India, he said, lost a great opportunity when it hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

"We lost the opportunity to brand India. We have harmed our country's interests for the next 20 years," he said, adding the mega show was marred by charges of mass corruption.