Beware of Modi's true face behind mask: Sonia Gandhi

As campaigning hots up for the April 17 polls in the State, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday launched a broadside at BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi alleging that his true face was covered with a mask, while debunking his Gujarat model of development.

“An attempt is being made to cover the true face of the person with a mask. He is being projected as a cure for all ills and as a magician for the country,” Sonia said, targetting Modi without mentioning his name, at an election rally in Kolar.

It was the Congress president’s second visit to Karnataka as part of her campaign schedule.

In an apparent reference to Modi’s close aide Amit Shah’s recent “revenge” remark, Sonia accused the BJP of spreading hatred among brothers to cover up their wrongs and said such attempts were aimed at breaking the social fabric of the society.

“The 2014 elections will be more important than before as it will decide which type of India we need,” she said.

Sonia charged the BJP with presenting a charade of development to people by splurging huge money on publicity.

“The Gujarat government has been perpetrating atrocities on farmers. Land is virtually being snatched away. More than 60,000 small industries have been shut. Children are dying of malnutrition, while the state government has been favouring the rich and the affluent,” she alleged.

JD(S) too under fire

Addressing a rally in Mysore later in the day, the UPA chairperson took on both the BJP and JD(S). 

Sonia said: “While the BJP is posing a threat to the secular fabric of the nation, the JD(S) claims to vouch for secularism but compromises with its principles for the sake of power. On the one side is the Congress that believes in democracy, tradition and values, on the other side is the party (BJP) that believes in one man. And it is seeking votes in his name.”

Sonia alleged that the previous BJP government in Karnataka was itself a part of the mining mafia with the active support of the then chief minister B S Yeddyurappa.

“He lost power and was even put behind bars. The BJP, however, has opened its doors for such people,” Sonia alleged without naming Yeddyurappa.

She claimed that an era of progress has started in Karnataka with the Congress government coming to power and exhorted the voters to exercise their franchise after a careful thought as to enable formation of a secular government at the Centre.