Modi gets original, targets Rahul roots

The BJP high command’s advice to partymen to refrain from personal attacks seems to have been lost on Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister...

The BJP high command’s advice to partymen to refrain from personal attacks seems to have been lost on Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister took his campaign to a new low today, even as he shared the dais with DPM L.K. Advani who steered clear of any attacks on Congress leaders.

‘‘The Congress symbol used to be gai and vaccharado (cow and calf) and people used to say gai (Indira Gandhi) and vacchharado (Sanjay Gandhi) are contesting. Have to kheduto mane kahe chhe saheb have to jarsi vacchhrado chuntani ladhva aavyo chhe (Now farmers tell me a hybrid calf has come to contest the elections),’’ Modi told the gathering.

‘‘A survey in Nadiad recently showed that none of the 20 shopkeepers replied in affirmative to a question whether they were ready to employ Sonia Gandhi as a clerk. They were also not ready to employ her son as a driver,’’ he said. ‘‘And she wants to become the prime minister.’’ The Congress in its 125-year history fought against the white-skinned people asking them to leave the country but now the party is out to welcome them, he said.

The tirade continued as Advani looked on. As the yatra passed through Surendranagar and Patan, which elected Congress MPs in 1999, Modi asked the people to throw them away for ‘‘they called us murderers, rapists and arsonists in Parliament. You settled scores in Assembly polls, an encore is needed in LS.”

In contrast, Advani maintained restraint. ‘‘We want the Congress to remain for bipolar polity is good for democracy,’’ was all he would say.