Modi attacks Sonia for running a dynasty

Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family, accusing them of disliking Gujarat and Gujaratis who were an "eyesore" for them. Invoking tall leaders from the poll-bound state like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Morarji Desai, the Prime Minister accused the "Congress and the family" of slighting them.

Defending the new tax regime or GST, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said, "the decision to implement the reform was not of Prime Minister Modi alone." He said there were nearly 30 parties that were consulted and involved with the new tax. "The Congress is an equal partner in GST decisions. They should not spread lies on GST," the Prime Minister said at a rally in Gujarat, his home state which he governed for over a decade.

Accusing the main Opposition party of pursuing "negative politics", Modi dared the Congress to fight the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls on the development plank. "Gujarat polls are round the corner and the Congress has developed fever once again. Gujarat has been an eyesore for the party and the family.

I won't repeat what they did to Sardar Patel, his daughter Maniben, and Morarji Desai. "They did not speak about the work of Morarji Desai or his dedication and commitment to Mahatma Gandhi's ideals. They instead chose to talk about what he ate and drank," Modi told a massive BJP rally at Bhat village near Gandhinagar, referring to the former prime minister's fondness of urine therapy.

He also targeted the Congress over the resignation of party leader Madhavsinh Solanki, who, as the foreign minister, was alleged to have sent a letter to his then Swiss counterpart to scuttle the Bofors scandal probe. "They forced Solanki to resign. the party can go to any extent to save the family," he said.

The rally was held to mark the conclusion of the saffron party's 'Gujarat Gaurav Yatra' (march for Gujarat's honour) ahead of the high-octane electoral battle for the state where the BJP holds sway.

"You did not waste any opportunity to strike. When I was the chief minister and you were in power at the Centre, you hatched a conspiracy to put me in jail. You knew that it was not possible until Amit Shah (BJP chief) was put behind bars, you did that. "This is the poison, the malice you harbour. Since Patel conceived the Narmada project, it was not allowed to be completed for 40-50 years," Modi said.

Referring to Congress leaders, including party president Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi being on bail in the National Herald case, Modi said, "The whole party is on bail". "Every time there is an election, Congress would raise the issue of communalism, spread the poison of casteism. They never have the courage to contest a poll on the concrete issue of development," Modi said.