Modi says Congress will be defeated, seeks probe into travel delay

Addressing election rallies in UP and MP, Modi attacked the UPA over unending farmer suicides in the country

Stepping up his offensive against the Congress, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Tuesday said that it faced "certain defeat" in the Lok Sabha poll.

He also urged the Election Commission to probe the "delay" in clearance for his helicopters to take off.

Addressing election rallies in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Modi attacked the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government over unending farmer suicides in the country.

After landing in Bareilly for his first election rally of the day, Modi said he was at Delhi airport since 9.30 a.m. but did not get permission to take off.

"I try my best to ensure that there is no delay due to me. Today, I am feeling sad. You had to wait for so long in heat. You are doing this tapasaya (sacrifice) in this scorching heat. I assure you that I will not let this go in vain," he said.

In a veiled dig at Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is an MP from Rae Bareli, Modi said: "Rae Bareli has elected such strong leaders but see development there."

Seeking to woo Muslims, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said that most people working in kite industry in his native Gujarat were belonged to the community.

He accused the Congress of not being connected with the poor.

"Sitting in AC rooms, they make schemes to run the country from Delhi but things remain the same," he said.

Modi also took a dig at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over the state government's development record. The state's ruling Samajwadi Party has decided not to put up candidates against Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

"UP chief minister asked for lions from Gujarat. We gave the lions, hoping he will gain some courage but we were mistaken. Lions had to be caged. I invite Netaji (Akhilesh's father Mulayam Singh Yadav) and his family to visit Gir. Our lions are not caged and they roam around freely," Modi said.

He also found fault with the Congress-led government for not hitting back after Pakistani troops killed and beheaded Indian soldiers on the Kashmir border."Lal Bahadur Shastri coined the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' but the Congress slogan now is 'Mar Jawan, Mar Kisan'".

"This is because the government in Delhi keeps quiet when soldiers are beheaded by Pakistani soldiers. Farmers have been compelled to commit suicide... Be it a sugarcane farmer or cotton growing farming, they are committing suicide because they feel their future is not safe," he added.

Modi referred to Congress manifesto as "dhokha patar (a document of deceit)" and said India needed a stable government after the elections.

He urged people to elect over 300 MPs of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

In his rally at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, Modi again referred to the delay caused in his travel plans .

"I am 3.5 hours late. This delay is not due to me. I was waiting for hours at Delhi. Even in Bareilly, I waited for an hour. I urge the Election Commission to investigate why my programmes are delayed like this. Who's done this... delayed my helicopter by hours," Modi said.

"Let me tell the centre... your defeat is certain. If you are scared of Modi, say it openly you won't let Modi travel anywhere, say it openly. I am very sorry for delay. Please give a fitting reply by voting for the lotus (BJP's election symbol)," he added.

Modi said Congress and its allies should be defeated in elections.

"What has been going on for the last 10 years, can we let things go on like this," he said.

He said people in Madhya Pradesh need not be told what a BJP government can do.