NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Tuesday took several digs at
Rahul Gandhi, calling him a "Naamdaar" and challenging him to speak for 15 minutes without any paper, and in any language. Although he did not directly refer to him by name, the implication was obvious. Addressing the first of his many rallies in poll-bound Karnataka, Modi also tore into the Congress party on several fronts.
Right from the outset the PM made several jibes at Rahul. “The Congress president is a Naamdaar, so how does he know about the efforts of Kaamdaars,” Modi said, bringing up the reference several times in his speech. In a sarcastic comment, he went on to add, “We are Kaamdaars. What is our level that we can sit with people like the Congress president, who look down on us?”
Then when referring to the BJP’s efforts at ensuring electricity reached all the villages in the country, Rahul was the target yet again. “Perhaps due to over excitement, the newly elected Congress president forgets decency,” he said. “He did not even bother to congratulate the hardworking 'mazdoors' due to whom India's villages are getting electricity,” he went on to add.
Clearly in no mood to spare the Congress president, he next brought up Rahul by challenging him to a debate. Rahul had earlier said he wanted to speak in Parliament for 15 minutes on several issues, and he was quite certain Modi would not be able to remain seated for long.
"He (Rahul Gandhi) had challenged me that if he speaks for 15 minutes then I will not be able to stand in front of him. Yes, you are right, you are a 'naamdar', what right do we 'kaamdaars' have to even sit in front of you," was Modi’s mocking reaction.
Daring Rahul to a debate, the PM added, “For 15 minutes, without taking a paper in your hand, can you please talk about the achievements of your government in Karnataka. You can speak in any language as you please- English, Hindi or Italian.”
The Prime Minister also brought up the recent Vande Mataram controversy when Congress leaders purportedly asked for the song to be shortened because Rahul Gandhi was running short of time. and was late for another event. “The Congress is led by leaders who have no respect for India's history. I was shocked that they even went to the level of disrespecting 'Vande Mataram',” he said, slamming Rahul, without actually naming him directly.
And it wasn’t just the Congress scion who was the target, he also repeatedly slammed the party on several fronts. Attacking the Congress for not being able to provide electricity to all, he said, “I want to ask those who ruled India for a majority of the years since 1947- why did they not think about the 18,000 villages lacking access to electricity.”
“Where there is Congress, all roads of development are clogged. There is corruption, lack of harmony, he added.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also figured in the Prime Minister’s speech, which was a no-holds barred attack on the opposition party. “In 2005, during the time of Sonia Gandhi's government, Dr. Manmohan Singh had said he will provide electricity to every village by 2009. What happened to that? In any case, we saw how the Congress treated Dr. Manmohan Singh. They tore off ordinances and disrespected him,” he said.
Earlier, the PM began his address by saying Karnataka would witness a BJP storm, not just a wave. “Yeddyurappa is going to be the future chief minister of Karnataka,” he claimed.
With this rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched his campaign blitzkrieg in Karnataka, which is all set to vote on May 12. Modi, who continues to be BJP's biggest draw as a campaigner, has usually tilted people's support for the party in the last leg of any poll campaign. He is expected to weave his magic in the last two weeks with several rallies listed in his name, in an election that is expected to set the mood for next year's big battle.
