Congress steps up attack on Narendra Modi ahead of Himachal Polls
, ET Bureau|
Updated: Nov 03, 2017, 09.28 AM IST
After Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s controversial “maut ka saudagar” and vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s “khoon ki dalali” remarks ahead of crucial state elections, the party has resurrected its personal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the run-up to Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.
On a day when Modi addressed huge rallies across the hill state, Congress attacked him in the state capital of Shimla alluding to him as “vinaash ka daanav” (demon of destruction). Following Modi’s rally, Congress media department incharge Randeep Surjewala said, “Vinaash ke daanav aaj devbhoomi aaye hain, lekin Congress hee jeeti hai aur Congress hee jeetegi (Demon of destruction has come to Himachal Pradesh today but Congress has won and Congress will win here).”
Congress president had attacked Modi calling him “maut ka saudagar” ahead of 2007 Gujarat Assembly elections, which the party had lost miserably. Congress had hoped to stoke anger over 2002 Gujarat riots but instead the move backfired. Since then, the Grand Old Party had refrained from using such terms for Modi as it felt that the electorate did not appreciate personal attacks on the BJP leader. Later, Rahul Gandhi had talked about “khoon ki dalali” and was panned as the Congress was seen as stoking passions ahead of elections.
Congress’ has resurrected its attack as the last leg of campaigning begins for the November 9 elections. Surjewala added, “Vinaash ke daanav aaj aaye hain. Woh devbhoomi ko daanavbhoomi banaa ke jaayenge (Demons of destruction have come today. They will make land of Gods (reference to Himachal Pradesh) into land of demons).”
When asked whether the Congress was trying to stoke anger and revulsion ahead of Assembly polls, Surjewala said, “I did not attribute ‘vinaash ka daanav’ to one person. It can be your own deduction. It should be taken as a representative fight between vinaash ke daanav and our ideals of development and secularism.”
Surjewala lampooned the BJP for putting the state on sale. “When Dhumal ji (BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal) was in power, his own supporters had put up boards ‘Himachal for Sale’. Today Modiji has come to devbhoomi to do just that,” Surjewala said in the party’s first sharp attack on BJP in a largely-lacklustre Congress campaign.
On a day when Modi addressed huge rallies across the hill state, Congress attacked him in the state capital of Shimla alluding to him as “vinaash ka daanav” (demon of destruction). Following Modi’s rally, Congress media department incharge Randeep Surjewala said, “Vinaash ke daanav aaj devbhoomi aaye hain, lekin Congress hee jeeti hai aur Congress hee jeetegi (Demon of destruction has come to Himachal Pradesh today but Congress has won and Congress will win here).”
Congress president had attacked Modi calling him “maut ka saudagar” ahead of 2007 Gujarat Assembly elections, which the party had lost miserably. Congress had hoped to stoke anger over 2002 Gujarat riots but instead the move backfired. Since then, the Grand Old Party had refrained from using such terms for Modi as it felt that the electorate did not appreciate personal attacks on the BJP leader. Later, Rahul Gandhi had talked about “khoon ki dalali” and was panned as the Congress was seen as stoking passions ahead of elections.
Congress’ has resurrected its attack as the last leg of campaigning begins for the November 9 elections. Surjewala added, “Vinaash ke daanav aaj aaye hain. Woh devbhoomi ko daanavbhoomi banaa ke jaayenge (Demons of destruction have come today. They will make land of Gods (reference to Himachal Pradesh) into land of demons).”
When asked whether the Congress was trying to stoke anger and revulsion ahead of Assembly polls, Surjewala said, “I did not attribute ‘vinaash ka daanav’ to one person. It can be your own deduction. It should be taken as a representative fight between vinaash ke daanav and our ideals of development and secularism.”
Surjewala lampooned the BJP for putting the state on sale. “When Dhumal ji (BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal) was in power, his own supporters had put up boards ‘Himachal for Sale’. Today Modiji has come to devbhoomi to do just that,” Surjewala said in the party’s first sharp attack on BJP in a largely-lacklustre Congress campaign.
