Congress manifesto a political tool, did not maintain sanctity: Narendra Modi

Gumla: Launching a blistering attack on Congress on corruption and accusing it of making false promises in its manifesto, Narendra Modi on Thursday reached out to Gumla’s tribals, recalling that it was a BJP-led government that had created Jharkhand and set up a dedicated ministry for them.

Addresssing a rally in the mining state, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate alleged that India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had “mocked” the demand for creation of Jharkhand.

He also hit out at the UPA government over alleged corruption in giving clearances for power projects and revived his “Jayanthi tax” barb to target former Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan.

“Yesterday, Congress party released its manifesto. For any political party, its manifesto should be like the Gita, the Quran and the Bible and not some document to throw dust in people’s eyes. Congress party made its manifesto a political tool and did not maintain its sanctity,” Mr. Modi said.

Interacting with the crowd, he asked them whether they will trust the words of Congress or its “false promises” made in the manifesto.

“They had made promises in 2004 and 2009. They had said that they will bring down prices and will provide a job to one member of each family. Did they give you the jobs?” he asked.

Mr. Modi also chose the occasion to urge the Election Commission to frame some rule under which a party which comes to power should be asked about how many of the promises made in its manifesto were fulfilled during its tenure.

He also accused Congress of ignoring the welfare of tribals.

“These Congress people had no idea that our tribals brothers and sisters also live in the country. A number of Congress governments came to power in the last sixty years. Nehru became Prime Minister. But they never thought about creating a ministry for the welfare of tribals,” he said.

He said that it was NDA’s Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who created a dedicated ministry for tribals and earmarked a separate budget for them.

“A number of Congress governments came, but they did not give power in your hands....Vajpayeeji gave us Jharkhand, he gave the right to us to decide how it should progress.... Nehruji had mocked at the demand for Jharkhand.”

“Now that Jharkhand is in place, Congress is adopting all kinds of tactics (hathkanda) to capture power. They stand behind some one at one time and some other after that,” the BJP leader said, alluding to the different allies Congress had chosen in the State in the last few years.

Currently, Congress is partnering an alliance government with JMM and RJD in the state. Earlier, it had tied up with Babulal Marandi’s JVM (P) and had also supported independent Madhu Koda’s government.

Meanwhile, Modi also appealed to Maoists to abjure violence and said it was his dream to see a pen or a plough in the hands of the youths in their ranks and not guns.

"Mahatma Gandhiji gave us the message of non-violence. I appeal to the youths who are holding guns to shun violence," he told a poll rally held in the midst of a Maoist shutdown across Jharkhand.

Congratulating the large turnout, Modi said it showed that the people had also rejected the Maoist ideology.

"Despite the bandh and threat of guns, you (people) turned up in large numbers to this meeting. It shows you believe in democracy and are fearless of guns. I respect you," Modi told the rally held in support of BJP candidate Sudarshan Bhagat from Lohardaga (ST) LS seat.

"For welfare of the people, we should find solutions and work. Not spill blood but work for development... We are all for democracy," he added