Modi sounds election bugle, charges at Congress-led UPA

Expressing confidence in Gujarat's 'Team BJP' chief minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sounded the bugle for the assembly elections later this year and claimed that the Congress party in the state would be wiped out.

Modi, speaking to party men at the state BJP’s executive meet in Rajkot, also did not mince words in criticizing the Congress-led UPA government accusing it of massive corruption that has led to devaluation of the rupee and fall in growth rate.

Hinting at change of guard at the Centre, Modi claimed that people have lost confidence in the UPA government. He described the UPA as a sinking ship with a hole

 

“We are optimistic about winning 2012 assembly polls. We will not let corruption flourish in Gujarat. Congress has disappointed people.

Gujarat has set an example in the country for development-based politics instead of Congress’s caste-based politics,” Modi said.

He further said that state BJP would contest the elections on the basis of the development and with motto of ‘Sadbhavna’ that is peace, harmony and brotherhood.

“People of this country are fed up with the government. Congress leaders and ministers are not able to give solutions to any problem. Coalition compulsions are preventing Congress from acting against corruption,” he said.

Claiming that the UPA government has let the country down, Modi also accused the Union government for devaluation of rupee.

“The rupee has been devalued not due to the weakness in the economy but due to UPA’s corruption,” he said, adding that the UPA was further responsible for the low growth rate in the country.

“The Congress government has no answers to the charges against it. Look where inflation has reached. Every time Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assures the nation that the inflation will come down and give another date. If you cannot bring the prices down, at least bring it to that level where Atal Behari Vajpayee (government) had left it,” Modi said.

The chief minister also exuded confidence in his colleagues of the Gujarat BJP and said, “I have an invincible team the Team BJP…Team Gujarat. And with them we are moving towards the assembly polls.”

Meanwhile, posters praising Modi’s bête noire once again appeared in the state this time in Rajkot near the venue of the state BJP’s executive meet. The writing on posters once again indirectly targeting Modi.

Also, number of persons shouting slogans against Modi and the BJP were detained by the police from near the venue in Rajkot. They were later released after the programme was over.