Sonia Gandhi addressing a rally in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, on Friday
Ramgarh, Jharkhand:
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, without taking his name, today hit back at Narendra Modi asking whether someone who "speaks lies" was fit for the Prime Minister's post.
"Our party believes in communal harmony. We believe in uniting the country and not dividing country. I would like to ask you. Is someone who makes tall claims and speaks lies fit for the PM's post?" Mrs Gandhi said at an election rally in Jharkhand's Ramgarh.
"The country has many serious issues to deal with," she added.
The Congress president's comments came a day after Mr Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, charged her with "blatant communalism" over her meeting with top Muslim religious leaders where she allegedly asked them to ensure that the minority vote is not divided. The BJP later filed a formal objection stating that Mrs Gandhi's meeting was aimed at polarising the elections.
Taking on Mr Modi for criticising the Congress on corruption, Mrs Gandhi said it was a serious issue and if any party had taken steps to curb it than it was the Congress.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said the Congress had also taken several development steps and programmes to strengthen infrastructure.
"No country has an act equal to the Food Security Act, which ensures grains at subsidised rates and protects children from malnourishment, while the MGNREGA gives employment opportunities," she said.
The Congress had brought the Forest Rights Act also to protect the interests of the tribals, Mrs Gandhi added.
She also appealed to the Maoists in Jharkhand to give up weapons and return to the mainstream.
"Violence is a big impediment toward the progress and development of the country. I appeal to my brothers and sisters to return to the mainstream," she added.
"Our party believes in communal harmony. We believe in uniting the country and not dividing country. I would like to ask you. Is someone who makes tall claims and speaks lies fit for the PM's post?" Mrs Gandhi said at an election rally in Jharkhand's Ramgarh.
"The country has many serious issues to deal with," she added.
The Congress president's comments came a day after Mr Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, charged her with "blatant communalism" over her meeting with top Muslim religious leaders where she allegedly asked them to ensure that the minority vote is not divided. The BJP later filed a formal objection stating that Mrs Gandhi's meeting was aimed at polarising the elections.
Taking on Mr Modi for criticising the Congress on corruption, Mrs Gandhi said it was a serious issue and if any party had taken steps to curb it than it was the Congress.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said the Congress had also taken several development steps and programmes to strengthen infrastructure.
"No country has an act equal to the Food Security Act, which ensures grains at subsidised rates and protects children from malnourishment, while the MGNREGA gives employment opportunities," she said.
The Congress had brought the Forest Rights Act also to protect the interests of the tribals, Mrs Gandhi added.
She also appealed to the Maoists in Jharkhand to give up weapons and return to the mainstream.
"Violence is a big impediment toward the progress and development of the country. I appeal to my brothers and sisters to return to the mainstream," she added.
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