Modi childish: Priyanka; Cong ‘dhokebaaz’ party

New Delhi: Battling on Rahul Gandhi's behalf, Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday took on Narendra Modi over his 'shehzada', "namuna" and other barbs at her brother, saying the BJP leader is aspiring to be prime minister but indulging in "childish" behaviour and that he should maintain decorum.

Amid escalating war of words, Narendra Modi alleged that Congress was a "dhokebaaz" (fraud) party and described its manifesto as "dhokapatra". Priyanka said BJP leaders used to make fun of her father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi when he introduced computers in the country and they are now "mocking" her brother. "They call him (Rahul) 'namuna' (specimen). Sometime they compare him to a stand up comedian and sometime they call him shehzada. I think you (Modi) aspire to be a prime minister, then why do you indulge in such childish behaviour? He (Modi) should take maintain dignity," she said at an election meeting at Deeh in Salon assembly area.

Priyanka, whose attack on BJP and its prime ministerial candidate over their targeting of her husband Robert Vadra has invited sharp reaction from them, continued with her criticism of the opposition party for its "destructive" policies which, she said, pitted one brother against another. Exhorting people to vote for Congress, she said a message should be sent from her brother's constituency about the kind of politics that should be practised in India. "Their (BJP) politics is destructive.... Don't vote for yourself or Amethi. A message should go from here about the kind of politics needed in the country. There should be clean politics," she said.

BJP candidate Smriti Irani and AAP, which has fielded Kumar Vishwas, also drew Priyanka's wrath as she accused Irani of holding meetings in dark rooms to tell people about lack of electricity and development in the constituency. "There are different governments in the state and the Centre. Sometimes, it causes inconvenience. Giving power is state government's job.... When UP government diverted power supply here, their (BJP) leaders agitated in Lucknow. Now its candidate is doing drama here," she said. AAP neither has power at the Centre nor in state and it cannot do any development, she said as she listed out the developmental works carried out by Rahul.

Attacking Modi without taking his name, Priyanka said, "you are wishing to be PM but what plans do you have for women empowerment, development and employment". She said the sacrifices by Congress have saved the nation. "Our culture has lasted from centuries and people from all the religions live here. Beware of such forces which try to divide the society. Congress is needed to save the nation".

Striking an emotional chord with the people of Amethi, Priyanka recalled the years when her father Rajiv Gandhi was an MP from the constituency. "My father used to be your MP. All the elderly people present here must be knowing that how good a person Rajivji was. He got development of Amethi done through visionary thinking.... He thought about how to connect it with the world." "My brother is a visionary like Rajivji," she said, adding "Rahul is campaigning through out the country and he has sent me here to convey his wishes".

"I do not like saying it but Congress is a party that betrays people. It is a "dhokebaaz" party. See their 2009 manifesto. It is not a manifesto but a 'dhokapatra'," Modi said. Referring to price rise, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate said, "Congress had promised in its 2009 manifesto that it will bring down prices within 100 days. So is it not a 'dhokapatra' ?"

Modi said the people may forgive a mistake but they do not spare a cheat. "If you cheat people, they will not forgive you. They may forgive a mistake but not a cheat." Asking people to give BJP a chance at the Centre, he said, "You have given 60 years to the ruler (Congress), now give me 60 months to serve you. The country does not need a ruler, it needs a "sevak" (servant). "I want to serve the people as a servant for which I want your blessings."

He also accused the UPA government of not doing justice to defence personnel. Targeting young voters, he said, "The period between 18 years and 28 years of age is very crucial for everybody, because it shapes the future. All important decisions are taken during this period.

"It is a golden period and you cannot take any risk during the period. If there is a weak government in Delhi your five-year period will be spoilt." Making an appeal to jawans, Modi said, "They give their lives for the nation. The government, at least, needs to be honest with them. See how Congress has misled the servicemen over one-rank one-pension issue. They have been doing it in last so many elections."