‘PM a babu, UPA govt lethargic’
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the UPA government of degrading democratic institutions in the country. He called the UPA government “lethargic”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a “babu” and Congress president Sonia Gandhi one of the two PMs of India.
Mr Modi released a book, Beyond A Billion Ballots, written by RSS ideologue Vinay Sahastrabuddhe. Mr Modi was addressing a gathering at a function on “Good Governance through Democracy”.
Further, giving example of the national advisory committee, Mr Modi said, “The institution of the planning commission has been weakened and instead five-star activists take decision. Then one PM approves them and sends them to the second PM for implementation.”
Mr Modi also accused the Centre of misusing the CBI, Article 356 of the Constitution and income-tax department. He claimed that some businessmen who participated in the Vibrant Gujarat Samit were later sent I-T notices. Though hid did not take Dr Manmohan Singh’s name directly, Mr Modi said that the UPA government is lethargic because “a babu is sitting” at its helm and not a leader of the masses.
Mr Modi also spoke about “Ram Rajya,” but stressed that Ram Rajya does not mean that secularism is in danger. He pointed out that Mahatma Gandhi had also spoken about Ram Rajya, which means good governance.
Meanwhile, Mr Modi on Thursday told members of his Maharashtra core committee that the BJP would contest the next general elections on the development issue.
In a meeting held at the Rangsharda in Bandra, Mr Modi told his party’s Maharashtra leaders to reach out to people from all caste, communities and religions. Interestingly, there was no mention of Hindutva in his speech.
”Go to people, understand their problems and ask them what according to them is a solution to their problems. This will create a good rapport with common people,” a source quoted Mr Modi as saying.
The Gujarat CM also said that the BJP’s campaign would stress on the good work done by BJP governments in Gujarat and other states. “We have been told to focus on Congress’ failures and stress on the achievements of the BJP governments in various states,” a BJP leader said.
All top BJP leaders in the state, except former party president Nitin Gadkari, attended the meeting. A BJP official clarified that Mr Gadkari was at the Norway Consulate in Delhi for his visa interview. He will be on a Norway trip from June 29 to July 7, 2013. Mr Gadkari attended another function with Mr Modi later in the evening.
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