Jaipur:
Narendra Modi introduced a new political alphabet today with a dig at the Congress for a series of corruption scandals that have dogged it.
"A for Adarsh, B for Bofors, C for CWG and D for Damad Ka Karobaar (son-in-law's business)," said the BJP's star campaigner in Jaipur, the capital of election-bound Rajasthan. The last refers to allegations of malpractices in business against Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
The Gujarat Chief Minister was in Rajasthan to campaign for elections due in November, and shared the stage with Vasundhara Raje Scindia, who heads the party in the state.
In 2009, the BJP lost both the Assembly elections in Rajasthan and the general elections to the Congress. Mr Modi, who is believed to be just days from being named the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, is seen by many in his party as the man who can reverse that now.
He sustained his attack on the Congress and the Gandhi family, saying, "The Rajasthan Chief Minister says political life is like swallowing poison. I wonder why every Congressman who comes to Rajasthan thinks of poison." Early this year Mr Gandhi, who is the Congress number 2, had said at a party conclave in Jaipur, "We should not chase power for the attributes of power, we should only use it to empower the voiceless."
Among the lakhs of people who gathered, was a group of Muslims rounded up by the party's minority wing. They were asked to attend Mr Modi's rally wearing skull caps and burqas. A woman named Razi admitted that usually, she does not wear the burqa but said today is a special occasion.
Amin Pathan, who heads the BJP minority cell here, said, "We have asked them to come in skull caps and burqas so that the message goes that the minority voter likes the BJP."
The Muslim supporters also said that they are aware they are likely to be paraded around Mr Modi for photo-ops. In July, the politician had accused the Congress of concealing its many infirmities and ineptitudes behind "a burqa of secularism."
Mr Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, repeatedly faces allegations that he did not do enough to stop the communal riots that mangled his state in 2002, leaving hundreds of Muslims dead. Those accusations have not been proven in court.
"A for Adarsh, B for Bofors, C for CWG and D for Damad Ka Karobaar (son-in-law's business)," said the BJP's star campaigner in Jaipur, the capital of election-bound Rajasthan. The last refers to allegations of malpractices in business against Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
The Gujarat Chief Minister was in Rajasthan to campaign for elections due in November, and shared the stage with Vasundhara Raje Scindia, who heads the party in the state.
In 2009, the BJP lost both the Assembly elections in Rajasthan and the general elections to the Congress. Mr Modi, who is believed to be just days from being named the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, is seen by many in his party as the man who can reverse that now.
He sustained his attack on the Congress and the Gandhi family, saying, "The Rajasthan Chief Minister says political life is like swallowing poison. I wonder why every Congressman who comes to Rajasthan thinks of poison." Early this year Mr Gandhi, who is the Congress number 2, had said at a party conclave in Jaipur, "We should not chase power for the attributes of power, we should only use it to empower the voiceless."
Among the lakhs of people who gathered, was a group of Muslims rounded up by the party's minority wing. They were asked to attend Mr Modi's rally wearing skull caps and burqas. A woman named Razi admitted that usually, she does not wear the burqa but said today is a special occasion.
Amin Pathan, who heads the BJP minority cell here, said, "We have asked them to come in skull caps and burqas so that the message goes that the minority voter likes the BJP."
The Muslim supporters also said that they are aware they are likely to be paraded around Mr Modi for photo-ops. In July, the politician had accused the Congress of concealing its many infirmities and ineptitudes behind "a burqa of secularism."
Mr Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, repeatedly faces allegations that he did not do enough to stop the communal riots that mangled his state in 2002, leaving hundreds of Muslims dead. Those accusations have not been proven in court.
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