Pakistan interfering in Gujarat polls, seeks explanation from Congress: Modi
NEW DELHI / PALANPUR : Ahead of the second phase of voting for Gujarat Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi have intensified their campaigning in the state.
Prime Minister Modi today addressed a rally in Palanpur where he attacked Congress party for numerous reasons, communication with Pak envoys being the topmost of all. He alleged that Pakistan was interfering in Gujarat Assembly polls, and sought an explanation from the Congress over its top partymen who are said to have recently met leaders from the neighbouring country.
He also raised questions over the alleged appeal by former director general of the Pakistan Army, Sardar Arshad Rafiq, that senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel be made chief minister of Gujarat.
He said (former Congress minister) Mani Shankar Aiyar had called him “neech” (vile) a day after the alleged meeting of Pakistani leaders with top Congressmen. “There were media reports yesterday about a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s house.
It was attended by Pakistan’s high commissioner, Pakistan’s former foreign minister, India’s former vice president and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,” Modi said. He further said that the meeting continued for at least three hours at Aiyar’s house. He also added that Rafiq had backed Ahmed Patel as the next chief minister of Gujarat.He said the Congress should inform the people of the country what exactly it was up to.
“(On one side) Pakistan Army’s former DG is interfering in Gujarat’s election, on the other side, Pakistan’s people are holding a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s house,” he said. “And, after that meeting, people of Gujarat, backward communities, poor people and Modi were insulted. Don’t you think such events raise doubts,” Modi asked.
Later in a press conference BJP party chief Amit Shah said that Congress had laid the foundation of Gujarat election on casteism. “The would-be President of Congress started hopping from temple to temple. Congress has been the creator of polarisation in India.”
Meanwhile in Kheda district , while addressing a rally , Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi sternly criticised BJP over notebandi.
The second phase of polling in north and central Gujarat, including the Banaskantha district, will be held on December 14.
(With inputs from agencies)
