“(There are) two occasions when people’s faith in democracy was dented. First in 1975 when constitutional power was misused to impose emergency. It is a blot on the history of free India. This year the second stain came with the misuse of money power to influence the Parliament,” the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP said after hoisting flag at his residence in New Delhi.

“Had Prime Minister made either direct or indirect reference to the cash-for-vote scandal, the speech would have carried more value,” Advani added.

Meanwhile, the BJP President Rajnath Singh took a dig at the Prime Minister for stating that his government was committed to eradicating unemployment.

“Slogans like ‘garibi hatao (remove poverty) and eradicate unemployment’ can win elections by misleading the people. But to build a nation one needs strong will-power,” Advani said.