Congress and BJP have once again entered into a combat of words during the campaigning in Gujarat. Both the parties had begun with the poll campaigning for the second phase of the elections. The Congress and BJP leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi held a series of rallies on 9 and 10 Dec.
The campaigning for the second phase will end on 13 Dec and the state will face the voting on 14 Dec. With only a few days left for the D-day, both the parties are aggressively engaged in luring the voters in their courts. The BJP star campaigner Narendra Modi held a series of rallies in Lunavada town of Mahisagar district in north Gujarat, Mehsana, Anand, and Bodeli on 9 Dec. While Rahul Gandhi addressed the gatherings in Patan, Banaskantha and Mehsana districts.
On 10 Dec, the Congress leader began the campaigning by a darshan at Shri Rannchodrai temple in Dakor in Kheda, followed by rallies in Dakor, Shamlaji Mandir, Aravali, Deodar, and Kalol. While on the other hand, Narendra Modi addressed gatherings in Palanpur, Sanand, Kalol, and Vadodara. These four areas are situated in the north and central Gujarat, which go to polls on 14 December.
During the rally, Prime Minister made one after the other scathing attacks on Congress. He also did not miss any chance to pull down on the Congress for making abusing comments on him paying special focus on the recent issue of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar calling him a ‘neech admi’.
The Prime Minister while addressing the rally in Banaskantha’s Palanpur said that “The entire nation is seeing the wonders of Banaskantha in agriculture, particularly in potato cultivation.” He once again slammed on the suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar saying that he had not only insulted him but the entire Gujarat. During the rally, he questioned that why Aiyar had recently held a secret meeting with Pakistani High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood. The Prime Minister claimed that ex-Pakistan Army Directorate General (DG) had said that the Congress Gujarat Rajya Sabha member Ahmed Patel should be made the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
On this, the Prime Minister questioned that “Why is Pakistan interfering in Gujarat polls? Why are people who previously held high posts in the military-intelligence establishment of Pakistan writing that we should help make Ahmed Patel the Chief Minister?”
He said that Mani Shankar Aiyar along with former prime minister Manmohan Singh and former vice president Hamid Ansari had held a closed door meeting with Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood. “The news is that Pakistan High Commissioner and foreign minister and Manmohan Singh met at his house just before the Gujarat polls. This is a serious issue that I want to ask. What is the reason for secret meeting with Pakistanis?” asked PM Modi.
Significantly, only a few days ago, posters could be seen in Gujarat, that asked the Muslims in the state to unite and support the Congress so that its leader Ahmed Patel could be made the ‘wazir-e-alam’ or chief minister of the state.
Addressing the rally the Prime Minister had expressing the criticalness of the matter almost blamed the former Prime Minister of India and former Vice President of India was involved in a conspiracy against Modi with Pakistan. He further questioned that “It is a serious matter… that Pakistan … its a sensitive issue… at that time what is the reason to have such a secret meeting with the Pakistan high commissioner? And while elections are on in Gujarat, what is the reason for this type of secret meeting?”
Further attacking the Congress for making the Pakistan officials involved in the Indian elections he raised questions saying that “The second matter, Pakistan’s former Director General of Army, Arshad Rafiq, he says this, that to make Ahmed Patel Gujarat’s chief minister, we should do a contract. That Pakistan’s retired army chief should interfere in Gujarat’s election, that a meeting of Pakistani people should be held at Mani Shankar’s place, and the day after the meeting Gujarat is insulted… Modi is insulted… All these matters raise questions, do they not; they cause concern, do they not?”
The Prime Minister also alleged that the former Prime Minister deliberately had not taken any action after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Addressing a public rally in Vadodara late Sunday, Narendra Modi raising eyebrows at Manmohan Singh questioned that why his predecessor did not go for a surgical strike after the attack on Mumbai, even when the army and air force were ready for it.
He further added that the Air Force had approached Manmohan Singh with a plan for surgical strikes, but the government did not show the courage to order it. Addressing the gathering at the Navlakhi compound, he questioned that on who’s advice did the then Prime Minister say no to the Air Force. Boasting about the immediate steps taken by his own government giving the example of the time when he took the decision of surgical strike in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack in September last year.
Modi said “Someone who served at a high position in the Air Force has said that after 26/11, they went to the then prime minister with a plan for surgical strikes. Sadly, the then government did not show the courage to do that.” Talking about the decisions taken by him, Modi said that ““My government, in the aftermath of the Uri attack by Pakistan, had launched a surgical strike inside the borders of Pakistan, targeting several terror camps and launchpads. The strikes came as a surprise for the Pakistanis who were caught unaware. While the maximum damage was inflicted on their side, the Indian soldiers came back without any casualties.”
During the rally, Modi also cited that when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he used to take permission from the then Manmohan Singh government before meeting any foreign dignitary.
Meanwhile, the Congress responding to the allegations made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he should apologize putting such serious allegations in the senior leaders of Congress and said that the statements of Modi are irresponsible and outrageous.
Alos the foreign office of Pakistan on Monday morning said that India should win the elections on its own strength rather than on conspiracies. Pakistan’s foreign office said, “India should stop dragging Pakistan into its electoral debate and win victories on own strength rather than fabricated conspiracies, which are utterly baseless and irresponsible.”
India should stop dragging Pakistan into its electoral debate and win victories on own strength rather than fabricated conspiracies, which are utterly baseless and irresponsible.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 11, 2017
The Congress’s Anand Sharma said, “It is highly irresponsible and outrageous on the part of the PM to make such a statement. He shouldn’t forget that he is the Prime Minister…We do not need a certificate of patriotism from the BJP…Narendra Modi should apologise to the Congress.” He further added that the PM will have to apologise and if he does not, he will force Narendra Modi and will surely bring up the matter during the winter session beginning from a day after the second phase of the elections on 15 Dec.
Pavan Verma from the Janta Dal United said that the PM’s allegation of Pakistani interference is taking it a little too far. Meanwhile, BJP’s rebellious Shatrughan Sinha took a jibe at Modi for blaming Congress to be involved with Pakistan and planning conspiracy to against the Prime Minister. He posted a sarcastic tweet pointing to Modi “Hon’ble Sir! Just to win elections anyhow, and that too at the fag end of the process, is it a must to come up with & endorse new, unsubstantiated & unbelievable stories every day against political opponents? Now linking them to Pak High Commissioner & Generals?!”
Hon'ble Sir!
Just to win elections anyhow, and that too at the fag end of the process, is it a must to come up with & endorse new, unsubstantiated & unbelievable stories everyday against political opponents? Now linking them to Pak High Commissioner & Generals?! Incredible!.1>2— Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) December 11, 2017
On the other hand, the Congress, immediately sidelining itself from Mani Shankar Aiyar and the remarks he had passed on Modi. The party also asked Aiyar to apologise to the Prime Minister and suspended him from the membership of the party.
But the party and the Congress leader did not leave the allegations made by Narendra Modi unattended. While addressing a gathering in Dakor Rahul Gandhi taking a dig at Modi said that in his speeches 90 percent of the time the Prime Minister only spoke about himself. Sarcastically attacking Modi, he said that “Don’t use offensive language against the PM. You belong to the Congress, so talk (about him) with love, use sweet words, and make him run away.”
Addressing a rally at Kalol, Rahul said “Modiji keeps using bad words against me in his speeches. Even today, he did so. I respect the post of the PM. No matter what the PM says about me, I won’t utter even a single bad word about him. Modiji, we will defeat you in Gujarat without any anger, but with love.” He further added that “I won’t forget the love you have shown till I am alive. Whenever you need me, just call me… You have forged a relationship with me. This is a relationship for life, it won’t break.”