Black money funding Modi campaign: Sharma

Stating that “arrogant and egoistic Modi has taken political discourse to a new low by indulging in personal attacks and vilification campaign”, Sharma said Modi was growing bigger than the BJP, which was dangerous.

“His name is being projected over and above the party. He is being equated with deities and gods. It is clear that he intends to change the parliamentary system into a dictatorial system. He has gone on to say that he has been chosen by the god. This is an insult to 814 million voters,” Sharma said.

He said that Gujarat model was a myth and in fact the state has suffered during Modi reign.”Gujarat stands fifth in foreign investment (8 bn USD) while Modi claims it is 1049 bn USD. I understand his knowledge of accounts and geography is limited,” the minister said.

He justified the Congress attacks on Modi’s marital status saying seeking a clarification is not a personal attack. “The second issue is tapping the phone of a lady. It is not a personal attack. The Gujarat government has filed an affidavit saying that the lady concerned was comfortable. We are saying that who authorised to tap phones,” he said.

The minister also attacked Mamata saying she had allied with twice with NDA and once with the UPA. “The TMC has displayed political opportunism. They left the UPA citing a frivolous reason of FDI in retail. Bengal would have profited under the multibrand retail as there would have been a massive development in infrastructure,” he said, pointing out that Bengal stands second in production of grains and first in fruits but 15 per cent of grains and 40 per cent of fruits were lost owing to poor infrastructure.