Congress Party candidate for Amritsar’s parliamentary seat Amarinder Singh gestures during an election campaign in Amritsar. PHOTO: AFP
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said the BJP’s much touted Gujarat Model is actually ‘Modi model’ under which the common man is suffering in the state, the Hindustan Times reported.
“BJP’s chief campaigner is selling Narendra Modi model in the name of Gujarat. What is happening in Gujarat under this model? Sikhs living there since past 50 years were being forced to leave the state,” Sonia said while addressing an election rally in Malwa belt of Punjab. “May God please save this country from this model,” she said.
She attacked the Akali Dal for joining hands with BJP and not raising its voice for the Sikhs in Gujarat. “The Akalis rather than raising voice against them (BJP) are colluding with them and they are partners in this atrocity against Sikhs in Gujarat,” said Sonia.
“In Gujarat, every second five-year-old child faces malnutrition and those who get INR11 (18 cents) per day are not considered below poverty line in Modi model,” she added.
Sonia said that around 45,000 acres of land in Gujarat had been given to one businessman at a cheap rate and under this model several people in the villages are still not getting potable water.
Accusing BJP of adopting an ideology in which common man will be identified not by his capabilities and skills but by his religion, language and caste, she said, the saffron party’s ideology is of “hatred, narrow mindedness and consistent hunger to achieve power” at the centre.
“Their (BJP) ideology wants to take the country on that path where nation’s entire power wrests with one person,” she said in an indirect reference to Narendra Modi. “They will take the country to a situation where the poor, weak and farmers will beg for their rights,” she said.
However, in contrast the ideology of Congress is development of farmers, poor, weak and every citizen of the country, she said adding that Congress is for peace and communal harmony.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2014.
COMMENTS (5)
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So-called Gujarat model which is being spoken about by supporters of modi ...has many holes. Tall claims being made on economic story of Gujarat are in direct conflict with statistics being provided by gujarat government economic surveys, reports. BJP had no choice when rss hand picked modi to lead the NDA for the 2014 general elections. they used development plank to mask the true colours, taste and thoughts of this right wing element. development plank is most porous argument presented by supporters of modi. Real battle between Congress lead UPA along with other parties V/s modi lead NDA ( right wing) is an Ideological epic war. This war is being fought by Congress even before 1947...when it fought Hindu Maha Sabha, rss etc. It is ONLY Congress which can steam the slide of India from Secular , Rational, Liberal , Tolerant , Civilised India into Hindu, Ritualistic, ultra right , Intolerant India!!
Every one know what congress model is- just fool the people and loot and loot and loot..
these selective ,concentrated, demented campaign from ET gonna prove more detrimental to pakistan,on other hand modi will be declared as a 14th PM of an independent india on may 16th...there was much more virile,vilifying campaign going on against BJP since early 2000's in india...if that couldn't stop the impending doom of congress and surge of right wing nationalistic parties,i don't know what would ...so better manage the tiny land or whatever left of pakistan
Still, compare his level of ethics with an average South Asian leader. You shall get your answer. I do not know how many were killed under his regime or how is he involved in it, thou SIT and SC gave him a clean chit , but what I do know is he provided basic enmities like electricity, roads and water to his state (Which is the last thing a politician must do in his area). No one's perfect. Everyone's got that dark spot on their favorite white shirt. If you compare modi's shirt with not just Indian leaders, but also with entire sub continents, you'd know. And for Pakistan, please getting so obsessed with Modi. You guys are behaving as if a new, strict teacher is coming in your classroom and you're afraid he will clip your wings and end all your naughty movements in the school. If you believe in democracy, and if you believe you are truthful and honest, you need not have to be so polarized about NaMo. Thank You. Regards.
ET should be Renamed as "HATE MODI PAPER"
ET has no guts even to publish the name of the Author of this Article
Publishing just what Sonia / Priyanka said in Election Rallies & adding half truths / lies is NOT Journalism
Modi WILL become the PM on 16th May...Abki Baar Modi Sarkar...
If you are sincere about journalism Publish this comment