Cong indulging in mud-slinging, says PM in apparent reference

The Congress is indulging in mud-slinging against the government because it finds it easier than debating issues like development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday, in an apparent reference to allegations on the Rafale fighter deal.

Addressing a rally here in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, he also said that the Congress was looking for support outside the country after failing to firm up a formidable coalition within India.

He was apparently referring to a tweet by former Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik who had said that Rahul Gandhi will be next PM of India if he follows 'Jet Gate' (Rafale deal) properly".

Modi said "arrogance" has reduced the Congress party from 440 seats in the Lok Sabha to 44 seats, despite which it was not ready to introspect or correct itself.

"What a condition the 125-year-old Congress been reduced to! Nothing remains in the Congress... You need to look for the Congress party with a microscope now," he said at the rally which was also addressed by BJP chief Amit Shah and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Mocking the Congress, Modi said the party has been reduced to such a condition that it is "begging" with small parties for alliances.

He went on to add, "Even if they get allies, the coalition will not be successful. So, they (Congress) are looking for support from outside India...Now, will people sitting outside the country decide who will become prime minister in India?"
Apparently referring to the charges of corruption being levelled by the Congress in the Rafale fighter deal, the prime minister said, "They (Congress) are indulging in mud-slinging because they find it easier."
He said the "Congress has become a burden on the country today" and "it is the responsibility of BJP workers in a democracy to save the country from it."
At the rally seen as launch of poll campaign, the prime minister said vote-bank politics has destroyed the society like "termites" and "it is our special responsibility to rid the country of vote-bank politics."
Targeting the Congress, Modi said, "these are the people who used a section of society to win elections, never caring to work for the welfare of others but only trying to save their chair. This sin of dividing the country is one major reason of its destruction."
The Congress is "unable to accept that a 'chai wala' (tea vendor) or the son of a poor mother like Shivraj and (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Yogi (Adityanath) could attain the chair of power."