After the Iron Man, BJP praises Lal Bahadur Shastri

Shastri was a common man born into a common family, who knew India, its character, says the BJP president

After Sardar Patel, BJP on Monday eulogised another Congress leader Lal Bahadur Shastri with its president Rajnath Singh stating that all the Congress regimes were corrupt except the one led by the late prime minister.

"There were many cases of corruption against the Congress. I won't talk about Lal Bahadur Shastri's regime. He was a common man born into a common family. He knew India, its character," Singh said.

He added that Shastri was aware that farmers were the backbone of the country and if others in the country had to do well, then farmers should prosper.

This assumes significance as BJP and Congress have had bitter verbal battles over Sardar Patel.

Attacking the UPA government over corruption, Singh said, "Ever since the UPA government came to power, if all the allegations put together, corruption charges amounting to over Rs 5.5 lakh crore have been levelled against government since last five years."

Accusing Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of crossing limits by calling BJP "poisonous" and "thief" and Narendra Modi "Maut ka saudagar" (merchant of death), he questioned whether such people should be even allowed to rule the country.

"It's bad to cross limits of decency in public life and democracy. No one worships Ravaan despite being rich, powerful and a scholar, but worships Ram for he never crossed his limits," he said.

He also accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi of remaining silent over the beheading incident.

"Pakistani Army comes and attacks our soldiers. They come and kill our soldiers, they crush one soldier's body after killing him and behead another and Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi keep mum."

He wanted soldiers to be "given free hand", saying after that no country will dare to look at India with a wicked eye".

He also slammed the Sheila Dikshit government, saying, "The (Delhi) Lokayukta had recommended sacking of the PWD minister. And Sheila Dikshit had met the President requesting he should not be sacked.