Modi turns spotlight on Delhi

Taking on AAP, which is being seen as a potential spoiler for BJP in Lok Sabha election, Modi said the recent ‘humiliation’ of the African women by its government in Delhi brought ‘disgrace’ to India globally. Citing the recent murder of an Arunachal Pradesh student ‘under Sonia Gandhi’s nose’ and the reported beating of a Manipuri woman in the Capital, Modi said such incidents have dented the images of Delhi and India. ‘In Delhi, one son of Arunachal was killed under your nose Sonia ji. It is a serious matter. I want to tell people of Delhi and the country that you should be proud of people from Arunachal who have stood up to China.’

‘We should see Delhi as a global city,’ he said adding that big cities should have hostels for students from the northeastern states. He also chose to hit back at Congress president Sonia Gandhi over her ‘zeher ki kheti’ barb saying it is the Congress which spews poison and reaps the harvest out of it with its divisive politics.

‘Sonia Gandhi has told Rahul that power is poison. Who has been in power for most of the time during the last 60 years?’ the BJP prime ministerial candidate said at the mammoth rally. Modi’s counterattack came a day after Sonia Gandhi at a rally in Karnataka accused Modi and BJP of indulging in divisive politics by ‘sowing seeds of poison’ (zeher ki kheti) and instigating violence in their ‘hunger’ for power.

In his 50-minute speech, Modi , in addition to attacking the Congress and the AAP governtment, also targeted the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. Seeking a mandate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, he projected himself as a ‘chowkidar’ who will guard public funds. He said that he had made Gujarat free of riots and would make UP so if his government is voted to power. Making an impactful foray into west UP politics, Modi invoked Chaudhary Charan Singh and Swami Dayanand Saraswati, but steered clear of making any direct reference to Muzaffarnagar riots or the alleged partisan role of Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party government. ‘People of the state decided to live in peace and harmony and get rid of vote-bank politics. Because of this Gujarat is riot free and developing,’ he said.