Narendra Modi kick started his election campaign on Tuesday in the temple town of Becharaji in Mehsana district. The Gujarat chief minister, who chose 9/11 as the day to begin his political battles in the state elections this year end, seemed to have launched a belligerent campaign by condemning the Congress party.
Though Modi's campaign saw the presence of a number of BJP leaders, the absence of Modi's mentor L K Advani in the "Vikas Rathyatra" displeased many supporters.
The BJP strong man stared his campaign with an appeal to the state Congress to not interrupt BJP programs in the state.
"I appeal to my friends in the Congress, conduct your programmes, go to the people. Whatever support you need from the government, I will provide. Do not obstruct the BJP's programmes," he said according to NDTV.
Modi, who described Congress as 'cancer', asked the people of Gujarat to wipe out his rival party from their land. He numbered the corruption charges against the Congress government and said that the Special investigation Team (SIT) has been misused by the party.
Modi also lashed out at the Congress and said the country will witness development only if the Congress in Delhi decides to follow the developmental model of Gujarat. He accused his rival party for asking its Gujarat unit to protest wherever he campaigns.
He shed light on the Congress' role in the 2G scam and Coalgate, saying that the party targeted the apex court which is supervising investigations into the two scams. He also raised a finger to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for targeting the CAG report.
"Singh and Gandhi are following the legacy of Indira Gandhi who could not tolerate opposition. She used to insult people in public for opposing her. The same is being followed today," he said according to The Times of India.
The chief minister also challenged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking whether he is ready to face the SIT probe on the Coalgate scam.
"In my case, the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre was constituting SITs at the drop of a hat to corner me. I want to ask the Congress and the Prime Minister, would he like to face one now on the Coalgate scandal?" he quizzed according The Hindu.
