Cong puts up banners, warns against Modi ‘mischief’

According to Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki, Modi’s supporters tore these banners when they were put up in Baroda and Ahmedabad. The Congress then decided to carry these banners on mobile vans.

“We are aware that Modi has nothing to talk about in terms of development. He will fall back on old tricks to create a Hindu-Muslim divide to win the election. We are, therefore, trying to make people aware of Modi’s designs through these banners,” Solanki told The Indian Express. He said in recent times there have been attempts to cause communal clashes in Baroda, Surat and Ahmedabad. “We know who could have benefited from these riots,” he said.

Solanki said the Congress would try to ensure that there was “no repetition of Godhra” before the 2007 election. He said his party was apprehensive of some “mischief” to vitiate the atmosphere in Gujarat ahead of the election because, contrary to common perception in New Delhi, Modi was on the backfoot in Gujarat in this election.

While the influential Patel community has turned against Modi, thanks to dissension in the BJP’s ranks, the Congress has taken “great care” to give due importance to this community. Out of 36 District Congress Committee presidents in the state, 11 belong to Patel community, said Solanki.

Unlike the 2002 election, when the Congress had played into Modi’s hands by making communal riots its central plank that had polarised the majority communities against the minority, the Congress plans to focus on misrule, corruption and lack of development in this election.

“Mahatma Gandhi gave the message of ahimsa and peace to the entire world. Gujarat would be known to the world for centuries to come, thanks to Gandhi. Modi, on the other hand, is trying to give Gujarat a bad name through his violent methods. People have to choose between Gandhi and Modi,” said Solanki.