The recent income tax raids on the aide of Congress leader and Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) Chief Minister Kamal Nath has provided fresh ammo to the ruling BJP.
At a rally in Gujarat’s Junagadh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday fired a salvo at the Congress, terming the scam as “Tughlaq road Chunavi Ghotala”, hinting at the residence of the Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tughlaq Road in New Delhi.
Modi accused Kamal Nath-led M.P. government of siphoning off the money released by the Centre for the nutrition of State’s pregnant women, children and tribals. He accused the Congress of transferring it to its bosses in Delhi.
“The Congress has a history of indulging in scams. A new scam has joined the list — Tughlaq Road Chunavi Ghotala. Huge cash was recovered in sacks from the Congress leaders in Bhopal. Within six months of power in M.P., they have shown their true colours. Earlier Karnataka was their ATM, now even M.P. has become so. And nothing different can be imagined for Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh,” he said.
“Imagine, if they get five minutes to rule in Delhi after being out of power for five years, they will loot the public money even then,” he added.
Targets Cong manifesto
Modi also raised serious concerns about party’s manifesto, which he says “everyone should be granted bail despite committing a serious crime.”
“Is this a provision for your leaders? I have brought them to jail in the past five years. Give me five more years and they will be behind the bars,” he said.
He took a jibe at the Opposition’s Chowkidar Chor Hai barb saying, “If that is the case, then how come the money is recovered from a Congress leader?”
Modi spoke about his success in containing terrorism. “Terrorism emerged during their (Congress’) tenure. It got nurtured during their rule. But they didn’t act. Did anyone stop you (from taking action)? I want to say we will nip them (terrorists) in the bud.”
On Jammu and Kashmir
Referring to the remarks made by former J&K chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, on bringing back the posts of Prime Minister in the State, and breaking the State’s accession with India if the BJP tried to abrogate the special status given to Jammu & Kashmir, Modi said:
“Today, in Kashmir, some leaders demand there be two Prime Ministers and two Constitutions. This is against the country’s unity and integrity as visualised by Sardar Patel,” adding that the BJP would follow the principles of Sardar Patel and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
“Today’s Congress manifesto is completely opposite to Sardar Patel’s thoughts. They want to remove the sedition law. How can one expect such a thing from the 125-year-old party? This means, they want the Tukde-Tukde gang to succeed in destroying the unity of the country. They are trying to do what Pakistan wants to achieve. Aren’t they traitors?” he added.