By : Mohan Verma
Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi rebutted the frequent assaults by BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on former and her son after the latter used the name of Kargil heroes for electoral gains.
Addressing a mammoth rally at Dhalpur ground Kullu, Mrs. Gandhi alleged that BJP prime ministerial candidate was garnishing votes after using name of Kargil heroes in his speech.
In short but careful dialogues, she gave a sarcastic reply to Mr. Modi’s recent remark “yeh dil maange more (heart demand greater)”, “Unka dil sirf kursi mang rha hai (Modi’s heart only seeks power).”
Describing the BJP leader as a ‘pracharak’ or propagandist, she said, “It seems he has started thinking himself to be the prime minister even before the results are out.”
Listing out the achievements of the Congress led UPA government in the past 10 years, Mrs. Gandhi said her party didn’t make false promises. “It’s always working … for the welfare of the poor.”
Mr. Modi in his election rallies in the state on April 29 appealed to the voters to ensure his party’s victory in 300 Lok Sabha constituencies. But his use of Kargil hero Vikram Batra’s oft-quoted phrase “yeh dil maange more” sparked a controversy, with Batra’s parents and the Congress raising objections.
Mr. Modi defended his use of the phrase at a 3D rally held a few hours later saying he would rather leave politics than insult our martyrs and their parents.
The hill state has four Lok Sabha seats – Shimla, Kangra, Mandi and Hamirpur – and the main contest is between the Congress and the BJP. In the 2009 elections, the Congress won the Mandi seat while the BJP bagged the other three seats.