PM slams Modi, says BJP playing 'petty politics'

RAIPUR: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday took on Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for his recent outbursts against his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar saying that opposition leaders were playing "petty politics" in their lust to grab power.

Addressing Congress workers meet here, Singh, without naming Modi, said some opposition leaders were using bad words against "other leaders and chief ministers" to gain cheap publicity. His obvious reference was to Modi's recent public statements, including the one at Jagdalpur, in which he accused Nitish Kumar of being a "backstabber and traitor".

Advising the opposition to refrain from such "sasti rajniti" (petty politics), Singh said the Congress would never resort to such tactics. Dubbing the BJP as "communal", Singh said its leaders were trying to project themselves as secular to fool the people.

Castigating the Raman Singh led BJP government in the state, Singh said the law and order situation had deteriorated to such a great extent and many innocent people, including Congress leaders and workers, had lost their lives in Maoist violence. He said the sacrifice of the Congress leaders, slain in the Bastar massacre, would always be remembered.

Saying that huge amounts of funds were being allocated to Chhattisgarh by the Centre under various schemes, the Prime Minister said the implementation of the programmes was not being done properly and its benefits were not reaching people. He said Congress alone could ensure Chhattisgarh's progress and people would benefit immensely with the party being in power both in the state and the Centre.

He said while the BJP was trying to claim credit for various social welfare schemes implemented in the state, the money for the same was being provided by the Centre. He said the UPA government had decided to set up many IIMs, IITs and AIIMS like institutes all over the country, including Chhattisgarh. "AIIMS is here and IIM and IIT will come soon," he said.

Senior party leader and former chief minister Ajit Jogi was conspicuous by his absence from the "workers' meeting". AICC leaders, Motilal Vora and BK Hariprasad, and PCC president Charandas Mahant were present on the occasion.

Not many workers turned up for the PM's address as the venue for the meeting, Indoor Stadium, in front of historic Budhatalab, was nearly half empty. The organizers were left red-faced, when many workers attempted to leave, as Singh arrived almost 40 minutes after the scheduled time of 2.40 pm. Leaders were seen forcing workers to get back to their seats.