PM ramps up poll pressure over 26/11, questions Cong patriotism for questioning surgical strikes

Ratcheting up poll pressure on the 10th anniversary of India's worst terror strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a broad swipe at the Congress for being in power during the Mumbai attack and for questioning his government's surgical strike in Pakistan.

On an emotive day of remembrance for the families and colleagues of those killed, the prime minister stepped up the tempo as he referred to then Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi as "madam" who ruled the country at the time.

"Delhi was ruled by madam... the world was shaken but the Congress was playing how-to-win-the-election game," Modi said referring to Sonia Gandhi, who was widely believed to be the power behind then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"I remember the slightest criticism over the attacks used to rile the then ruling party," Modi said while hitting out at the Congress over its handling of terrorism and Naxalism. He was addressing an election rally here on the anniversary of the 60-hour terror siege by 10 Pakistani terrorists who sneaked into Mumbai on November 26, 2008, killing 166 people in a rampage spread over several locations
"When the country's soldiers did such a big thing, when they struck the enemy in his own home, wasn't every Indian proud or not? Was this not an example of patriotism? ... Was this not a saga of bravery?
"But in such a time the Congress raised a question -- show the video whether surgical strike happened or not. When the country's soldier goes with his life in his fist, will he be carrying a video camera?" Modi asked. "At that time did they not remember patriotism?"