Mandi (Himachal Pradesh):
BJP leader Narendra Modi mocked the Prime Minister today, by calling him "Maun (silent)-Mohan Singh" at an election rally in Himachal Pradesh. The state votes next month; the BJP is hoping to return to power.
He said, "'Maunmohan' Singh had come to Himachal yesterday. The biggest headlines in newspapers today are that 'Maunmohan Singhji' broke his silence in Himachal. Have these two people (the PM and Congress president Sonia Gandhi) spoken a word on inflation? Have they given reasons for the inflation? Have they expressed any empathy with the masses over inflation?" Mr Modi asked.
The BJP has often criticised the Prime Minister for refusing to comment on important issues like inflation.
The PM had visited Himachal Pradesh yesterday, immediately after the cabinet reshuffle, to address an election rally.
Mr Modi is Chief Minister of Gujarat and is seeking a third consecutive term when the state votes in December, so his speech in Himachal Pradesh also praised his government's work at home.
He chose to attack the Congress over its recent decision to limit the supply of subsidised cooking gas to households. The Centre now grants six discounted cylinders per household. The Congress has asked its governments in different states to take on some of the costs and increase the cap to nine cylinders.
Mr Modi said he admired BJP chief minister PK Dhumal who introduced free stoves for the poor.
"They took away gas cylinders from you. Generally a family needs 24 cylinders per year... I want to felicitate P K Dhumal, who without any support from Delhi, has ensured free stoves to every family.
Mr Modi waved a stove during his address and said, "This is not a stove, but a slap on the face of the Congress."
(With PTI inputs)
He said, "'Maunmohan' Singh had come to Himachal yesterday. The biggest headlines in newspapers today are that 'Maunmohan Singhji' broke his silence in Himachal. Have these two people (the PM and Congress president Sonia Gandhi) spoken a word on inflation? Have they given reasons for the inflation? Have they expressed any empathy with the masses over inflation?" Mr Modi asked.
The BJP has often criticised the Prime Minister for refusing to comment on important issues like inflation.
The PM had visited Himachal Pradesh yesterday, immediately after the cabinet reshuffle, to address an election rally.
Mr Modi is Chief Minister of Gujarat and is seeking a third consecutive term when the state votes in December, so his speech in Himachal Pradesh also praised his government's work at home.
He chose to attack the Congress over its recent decision to limit the supply of subsidised cooking gas to households. The Centre now grants six discounted cylinders per household. The Congress has asked its governments in different states to take on some of the costs and increase the cap to nine cylinders.
Mr Modi said he admired BJP chief minister PK Dhumal who introduced free stoves for the poor.
"They took away gas cylinders from you. Generally a family needs 24 cylinders per year... I want to felicitate P K Dhumal, who without any support from Delhi, has ensured free stoves to every family.
Mr Modi waved a stove during his address and said, "This is not a stove, but a slap on the face of the Congress."
(With PTI inputs)
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