Cong not bothered about people: Modi

Launching his party’s election campaign in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi made a scathing remarks about the Congress, on its indifference to the plight of the people and gave a clarion call to oust the UPA from power.

Addressing a well attended rally at Kanpur, Modi termed his rival and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi a “shehzada” (prince), who has no idea about poverty and the sufferings of the common man.

“Has there been a single word from the prime minister or madam Sonia Gandhi and the shehzada on the price rise? The arrogance of the Congress is sky high. It does not bother about the people,” Modi said.

He also took a potshot at Rahul for the Congress vice-president’s remarks that poverty was a state of mind. “Those, who are born with silver spoon in their mouth, have no idea about poverty,” he said, undermining Rahul’s visits to the homes of poor dalits. Modi also referred to the remarks of the UPA ministers on poverty, saying that they maintain that a meal is available for Rs 5, while some say it costs Rs 12. “They are making fun of the poor,” he added.

“There is anger among the people against the congress,” he went on to say.

The firebrand saffron leader accused the Congress of playing “divisive politics”. “Congress has always divided the people in the name of religion and caste,” he said, adding that the BJP believed in the politics of uniting and not dividing. He said that BJP was seeking the support of the people in the name of development.