Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a whirlwind tour of the state campaigning for NDA candidates, on Sunday vowed “sleepless nights” for the Congress leadership, including party president Sonia Gandhi an
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a whirlwind tour of the state campaigning for NDA candidates, on Sunday vowed “sleepless nights” for the Congress leadership, including party president Sonia Gandhi and top leader A.K. Antony, over the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter scam.
At a public rally in Thiruvananthapuram, the PM said that those who paid bribes in the deal had been nabbed, what needs to be seen is when those who got the commission would be exposed. Mr Modi, who kept mum about the helicopter scam during his earlier meetings at Kasaragod and Kuttanad, took a dig at Mr Antony. “Today, Congress leaders, including A.K. Antony, were very happy over my silence on the scam in earlier meetings,” he said. “I wish to tell the Congress leaders you can sleep during daytime and stay awake during the night.”
The country wants to know how many crores were amassed by Congress leaders, he said. “They are getting panicky whenever a helicopter’s noise is heard.”
In earlier election rallies in the state on Sunday, the PM also accused the Congress and CPI(M) of covering each other’s corruption, saying: “Both the Congress and Communists are in sync when it comes to indulging in corruption.” Mr Modi added: “These people have decided to taste power for five years in rotation. This way, they decided not to look each other’s sins and open their files (expose corruption).”
Targeting both the LDF and UDF on charges of violence and corruption, the PM sought votes for the NDA, which has “development as its single focus”.
In Kasargod, Mr Modi lashed out at the CPI(M) for pursuing the “politics of murder”, and made a direct attack on party politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan. “Around 40 years ago, the Communists murdered RSS
functionary and social worker Vadikkal Ramakrishan,” he said. “Today, the CPI(M) is considering making the accused in the case the chief minister of Kerala. Will Kerala be safe in the hands of persons facing charges of murder ” he asked. The trial court had acquitted Mr Vijayan in the case.
Introducing C. Sadanandan Master, BJP candidate in Kuthuparamba, Mr Modi said the Communists hacked his two legs. “Today, he is standing on prosthetic legs,” Mr Modi said. “I want to ask those people who accuse us round the clock: why are you deaf to these atrocities ”
Speaking at Kuttanad, Mr Modi said corruption has led to the state making little headway in development. “The people of Kerala must send these two fronts home so that they would understand what governance is all about.”
