Insensitive Congress cheated nation, punish them: Modi (Intro Roundup)

Chandigarh/Amritsar, April 25 (IANS) Calling the Congress and the UPA government "insensitive" and "bent on destroying the country", BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Friday said that they had "cheated" the country in their 10 years of rule and called upon the people to punish them. He claimed that the election would prove to be a complete rout for them.

Addressing five election rallies in Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Bathinda and Amritsar cities of Punjab Friday in favour of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine candidates, Modi said the electorate has bid farewell to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government already.

"In all the states that have voted, people have bid farewell to this (UPA) government. They have already laid the foundation for a NDA government at the centre. Now, in remaining areas you have to go and vote for a strong government," he said.

He said that the Congress would not open its account in many states in the Lok Sabha polls. "In other states, it will not reach double-figure," Modi said.

In his rally at Amritsar, which ended around 9.20 pm, in favour of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley, Modi said that Punjab had to suffer due to the activities of neighbouring Pakistan.

"They (Pakistan) were defeated in war, then they started a proxy war through terrorism and now they are out to ruin the youth and Indian economy through narco-terrorism and pushing fake currency. After May 16, we will review all border related issues," he said.

In a move likely to embarrass the Congress, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's half-brother, Daljeet Singh Kohli, Friday joined the BJP in Modi's presence.

"The country has not seen a more corrupt and notorious government in its entire history. This government has brought the country to the brink of disaster," Modi said.

Urging voters to punish the "Maa-Bete ki sarkar (mother-son government)" -- referring to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi -- in the country by voting it out, he said: "This mother-son government has ruined the country. You should punish this government by voting it out."

Modi said that the Congress and UPA were "insensitive and shameless" and had "cheated on the people of the nation".

"In 2009, they promised to provide 10 crore jobs. Have you got those jobs? Only 1.25 crore jobs have been provided," he noted.

"The 2014 election is not that of candidates and parties. It is of the 125 crore people of this country who are fighting it. People want to punish the Congress and the UPA that have looted this country," he said.

Modi also said that his dream was to see every Indian with a home by 2022 - the year that the country celebrates 75 years of Independence. "My dream is to see that every Indian had access to a home with facilities like water, electricity, education, health services and toilets by 2022," he said.

Taking on those targeting him during election campaigning, Modi said: "This is an election for Delhi. Yet questions are being raised about Modi. I am surprised at the kind of abuses being hurled at me."

He accused the Congress of abandoning issues and indulging in personal attacks.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who belongs to Punjab, he said: "He has worked here but never felt the need to repay the debt of this land (Punjab)."

Modi said the public was fed up with the hollow promises being made by the Congress. "We don't need promises, I will come with a clear intention (for development)," he said, adding that a "wise government" was needed at the centre.

He said that the UPA government had failed to spend even a penny out of the Rs.1,000 crore sanctioned for the 'Nirbhaya' fund after the Dec 16, 2012 gang-rape incident in Delhi. "Madam Soniaji, in your Delhi, crime against women is increasing. The Congress is dishonest and shameless," he said.

All 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab go to polls April 30.