Modi accuses Rahul of undermining PM's authority

In a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday accused him of undermining authority of the prime minister and asked people to decide if the nation will be run based on the Constitution or whims of the "prince".

Addressing a rally -- his first in the capital as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate -- he said UPA was burdened by "governments within governments" which has been affecting the overall growth and development of the country.

“The pride of the prime minister has been brought down by his own party. Congress party vice president has committed the sin of disrespecting the Prime Minister," he said. Exhorting people to bring the 'dream team' of the BJP to power in 2014, he asked them to throw out the United Progressive Alliance which is "deeply entrenched" in corruption.

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"Today the issue is whether the country will run on the whims of the prince or on the basis of the Constitution," he said, alleging that Congress leaders were "disrespecting" the Indian Constitution, Parliament, democracy and the Cabinet.

Launching a frontal attack on the UPA, he said all political allies of the UPA are running individual governments because of which nation's growth and development have been severely affected.

"This government is mired in corruption. Instead of finding solutions to problems, it has stopped functioning. This government is paralysed. The UPA government is immersed in Gandhi-bhakti. The Gandhi-bhakti refers to currency notes which they are collecting in tonnes," he alleged.

"Coalition governments are formed on arithmetic but run on chemistry. Till the chemistry matches, such government cannot do any public good. Though UPA coalition government is together, there is no coordination...because of which the country is not moving forward," he said.

"The country needs a dream team in 2014, not this dirty team. This government has no vision - look at all the budgets and plans, only the dates change," he added. Attacking the prime minister, Modi said, "The UPA coalition is headed by a sardar but is not 'asardar' (effective)."

In his over an hour-long address, the BJP leader lamented that Manmohan Singh was projecting 1.2 billion-strong India as a "poor nation" before United States President Barack Obama during his meeting with him on Saturday.

"My head bowed in shame as the prime minister was seen begging by projecting India as a nation of the poor. Why did he not project India as a nation with 65 per cent of the people below 35 years of age? Is that projection of poor nation a state of the mind?" he said.

Modi said the nation has apprehensions whether he will be able to effectively take up India's concerns on cross-border terrorism and other issues during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday in New York. Modi said the country was in the grip of a "crisis" because of corruption and policy paralysis.

"The nation has been gripped by crisis due to corruption. It has not only affected the exchequer but it has also created a crisis when it came to the nation's future.

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"More than 60 years after Independence, as compared to India smaller countries are doing better. We are regressing instead of progressing. Youth of this country want employment but this government is unable to do so. The national Democratic Alliance government had provided employment to six crore people in six years, and the UPA between 2004-2009 has given employment to only 27 lakh people," he said.

Questioning whether the future of the youth was safe in the hands of the Congress, Modi asked the younger generation to "throw out" UPA and the Delhi government led by the party.

Citing recent judgements in which the Supreme Court has used "harsh words" against the government, the Gujarat Chief Minister said the leaders of Congress and its allies are "unmoved" by such observations and made their comparison to an "alcoholic" who remained immune to any talk on the ill effects of liquor.

Referring to "lack of development" in the country in the last nine years, Modi made a comparision of infrastructure development between the UPA and the NDA regimes and gave examples of expansion of the national highway and railway networks during NDA rule.

He said that the UPA government by giving a package of Rs 30,000 crore to the aviation sector had shown its "misplaced priorities". Modi said he was "son of a poor family" and thanked the people allowing him to reach this position. "I was never a ruler, nor am I today. I am only your servant. Earlier also I was your servent. I will remain your servant in the future also."

He exhorted the people to have faith in the BJP and believe in his work and that of his party workers, saying, "I assure you, neither Narendra Modi nor BJP will ever break your trust and let you down. We will never allow your dreams to be shattered. We will live for your dreams.

"For me my religion is -- nation first, India first," he said, adding that the Constitution of the country should be the only holy book for a government. He also launched a direct attack on Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, saying she has a habit of passing the buck on all issues.

"The Delhi chief minister has the easiest job. All she does is cut ribbons at inaugurations. She has no

responsibilities. If there are pot holes on the roads, she blames municipal corporations. If there is a law and order problem, she blames the Centre. She passes the buck up or down," Modi said.”

Targeting Dikshit, Modi said India could not utilise the Commonwealth Games to project the country as a strong nation. "The corruption relating to the games cannot be seen in terms of finacial irregularities. The Commonwealth Games scam has robbed India of its sportsman spirit. Such games are a vehicle to show to the world brand India. But we could not do it because of mismanagement.

"Sports is a medium to showcase the country on a global platform. As for example, South Korea showcased itself in the Olympic Games and it aided in the country's development and attracted global attention. Our country has been robbed of such opportunities for the next 20 years," he said.

He also slammed the Delhi government for the shortage of electricity.

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