Modi mocks Sonia again,says 2007 repeat certain

“Soniaben said a lot of things about the Modi government. Soniaji,you should also have said a word or two on inflation and price rise,” he said while addressing a predominantly tribal gathering during the Swami Vivekanand Yuva Vikas Yatra in Dahod and the Panchmahals.

In the course of his speech,Modi also promised concrete houses to tribals living in mud huts. “Madam Soniaji said during her speech that development was there in Gujarat before (I came into power). Madam Soniaji,during the 2007 elections,you had come to Chhota Udepur to fool tribals,held a big rally and spent lakhs of rupees. Your partymen thought Modi would be finished. But what was the result? Your party could not even win the Chhota Udepur seat,” he said.

Accusing Congress of cheating people with false promises during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections,he challenged the Centre to “compete” with him on issues of development.

“Centre shies away from the issues of inflation and price rise. Congress fooled you to vote for it during 2009 general elections claiming it would curb inflation within 100 days. Was inflation curbed? No.

This is called cheating,” he said. “I challenge the government in Delhi to compete with Modi on issues of development,” he added.

While addressing her first public rally in Rajkot ahead of the state Assembly elections due in December,Sonia Gandhi had said on Wednesday that the Modi government in Gujarat was falsely claiming credit for state’s mega development projects. She,however,avoided naming Modi.

Exuding confidence of winning the upcoming elections with full majority,Modi said the tribals understood the game plan of the Congress party that leads government at the Centre.

“Soniaji,during the Congress government,crows would fly (over state’s tribal belt). Today,tribal youths fly helicopters and aeroplanes. For 50 years,you have stolen tribal rights. For all the developmental work that my government has done for tribals,I am confident the BJP will come back with full majority,” Modi said.

He also promised concrete houses to tribals who were living in mud houses. “I have asked taluka-level to collect data of tribals living below poverty line who are living in mud houses. Our government has asked sarpanch and talati to take photographs of beneficiaries along with houses,” he said.

Modi also attacked the Centre over the issue of corruption in allocation of coal blocks. “Have you ever heard of people stealing coal? Centre has stolen coal,worth Rs 2 lakh crore!”

This was Modi’s first rally after the model code of conduct came into effect with the announcement of elections on Wednesday.

CM’s yatra to end at Pavagadh on Oct 11

Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s month-long Swami Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra will culminate at Pavagadh on October 11,sources in BJP said on Thursday.

“We have been intimated by our party leaders that the yatra will end at Pavagadh on October 11. There is no specific reason to choose the pilgrim place of Pavagadh except for the fact that it is the abode of Goddess Kali. The CM had begun his yatra from Ambaji (in Mehsana district),which is the place of Goddess Bahuchar and wants to conclude it at another place of maa shakti,” president of the Panchamahals district unit of BJP,Jayprakash Patel,told The Indian Express.

“The CM will reach Pavagadh via Thasra,Kalol and Halol and address a rally in the foothills of Pavagadh hills. We expect around 2 lakh people to attend the rally there,” Patel said.

Incidentally,Modi was in the Panchamahals district on Thursday and addressed rallies in Lunawada and Santrampur towns.

The CM is to address around 150 rallies in all the 182 Assembly constituencies of the state. So far he has covered north and central Gujarat and Saurashtra.