Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed the Congress for opposing opinion polls, saying fear of losing elections was the reason behind its "nonsensical" demand and "desperate" tactics.
Addressing a public meeting in Bemetra ahead of second phase of Assembly Election on November 19, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate launched a shrill attack against Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi on their claim that the Centre was giving funds to the state but it was not able to use them properly. He asked if these funds to Chhattisgarh are coming from Rahul's "maternal uncle" - a dig at Sonia's Italian origin.
"There are going to lose power in 2014.... BJP and NDA are going to form the government in Delhi. Hence they are trying to ban all opinion polls.... These scared, frightened people are in fear of losing power. They are talking non-sense and resorting to desperate tactics," Modi said.
Targeting Sonia Gandhi, Modi said before levelling charges that the state is still poor and suffering from malgovernance under BJP rule, she should do "some homework and then come here".
"All Congress leaders- Prime Minister, Finance Minister have praised the Chhattisgarh government. Your government has given several awards and felicitated Chhattisgarh so many times. The state has progressed under Raman Singh," Modi said in first of his five rallies.
The BJP leader said Congress should first implement the election promises it is making here like free rice and 24-hour electricity in states where it is in power.
He also sought to know why Congress is scared of disclosing the name of its chief ministerial candidate. "If a sting is conducted of Congress leaders, they take the name of Ajit Jogi as their CM candidate. Why is it that you fear losing polls if his name is declared. What are the sins that are preventing you from declaring his name?" he said.
Alleging that Congress claims of giving massive funds to Chhattisgarh under various schemes is an insult to its people, Modi said, "Sonia Madam and Shehzade (Rahul) had come here. Said so much foodgrains and funds were given. Are you people standing here with a begging bowl.... What kind of language is the Congress speaking?"
Asserting that the people have a right to central funds, he said, "I want to ask Shehzada, did he get the money from his maternal uncle's house. This is the people's money."
Modi sought to know "why the Congress is trying to come to power through the backdoor".
Expressing his condolences over the death of security personnel and polling staff in Maoist attack in the first phase of polls in Chhattisgarh, Modi said the Election Commission should put the names of such martyrs on its website.
It should also felicitate them on January 25 which is celebrated as Voters' Day.
Referring to election campaign slogan 'Congress lao Chhattisgarh bachao (Bring Congress to save Chhattisgarh', Modi said, "Chhattisgarh is in India and Congress is ruling the nation at Centre but even after that they say bring Congress in Chhattisgarh and save it as if they don't feel the tribal dominated state is in India.
"Who is ruling the nation? Is Chhattisgarh not in India? But Congress gives advertisements Congress lao Chhattisgarh bachao. It clearly means you (Congress top leaders) are sitting in Delhi, but do not consider Chhattisgarh as your own," he said addressing the rally in the constituency represented by Congress MLA Tamradhwaj Sahu.
He also accused Congress of making false promises in its election manifesto for Chhattisgarh Assembly Election.
"Where there are Congress governments - Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, do they give free rice there? No. Then why fool people here," he said.
"Is there even one Congress government in the nation that is giving 24-hour power, including in Delhi, where Madam Sonia, PM and Shahzada live?"
But Gujarat and Chhattisgarh have achieved this feat, he claimed, adding "either give 24-hour power in your (Congress ruled) states or do not mislead people of Chhattisgarh".
Lauding Chief Minister Raman Singh, he said, the BJP government is developing the state along with combating the menace of Naxalism.
"Congress lacks the courage to fight the Maoists. They do backdoor deals with them. But Raman Singh is fighting them," he said. BJP has fielded Awdhesh Singh Chandel, who had lost previous election against Congress candidate Tamradhwaj Sahu by 6,473 votes, from the constituency.
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