Let PM name his leaders who fought for freedom: Anand Sharma

Former Union minister Anand Sharma of Congress challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mention the name of 'his' leaders who supported Mahatma Gandhi and went to jail for the freedom of the country.

"Modi has no right to take the name of Sardar Vallabhai Patel. After Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, the then home minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel banned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Modi should ensure that this information should be displayed on Sardar Patel's statue he is planning to install in Gujarat," Sharma said.

Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, he stated that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was responsible for the construction of Sardar Sarovar dam and not Modi who has not yet fulfilled his promise to install Sardar Patel's huge statue.

'Only lies'

"The Prime Minister should stop telling lies while seeking votes for the BJP in Assembly elections, and he should come here to give the accounts of performance of his government, instead of merely seeking votes. Modi is telling mere lies, though his government has failed in all sectors. Number of his rallies in Karnataka has increased, with a fear of BJP's defeat," Sharma claimed.

Before Modi, no prime minister used issues related to defense forces for politics. Though the Congress respected the army for the surgical strikes, Modi told lie in this regard. Instead, he should give an explanation about his government's failures in economy, employment, women's safety, petroleum product price, and others, he noted.

Modi should come out with both old and new series of GDP numbers of last 10 years, and then the truth would be known, he said.

Modi should also clarify whether there are two sets of laws in the country, one for his political opponents, and the other for his supporters. Why Modi is silent about Union minister Piyush Goel owning a company, turnover of the company of BJP national President Amit Shah's son, Nirav Modi bank fraud, and mining scam by Reddy brothers in Ballari, Sharma asked.

'Injustice to Karnataka'

AICC spokesman Pavan Khera charged that a huge scam has taken place in Rafale jet fighter purchase, and HAL in Bengaluru was not included in Rafale deal.

Injustice was done to Karnataka, to help Reliance company, and even national interest was neglected. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Niramala Sithraman should answer in this regard, Khera added.

Congress Party leaders Altaf Hallur, Deepak Chinchore, and others were present.