By IANS,
Jorhat (Assam) : Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of appeasing Muslims in the country and charged the ruling Congress party of encouraging “vote bank politics”.
“The prime minister in a written speech once said Muslims should get first priority in reaping the benefits of national properties and resources… this is an example of vote bank politics encouraged by the Congress party,” Modi told an election meeting in the tea growing town of Jorhat in eastern Assam.
“The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) believes the topmost priority should be given to the poor and the downtrodden.”
Modi launched an attack on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre saying time has come to “bid goodbye to the Congress regime”.
“Let us make a pledge to vote out the Congress party that literally destroyed the country … we don’t believe in vote bank politics, but want politics of development,” Modi said amid applause.
Making a dig at the prime minister who represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha or the upper house of parliament, Modi said Manmohan Singh had done little for the state he represents.
“Even during bomb blasts and floods in Assam, the prime minister fails to pay any heed to the state and their problems,” Modi said.
The Gujarat chief minister also raked up the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration into Assam.
“I am the chief minister of a state close to Pakistan, but in my state no illegal Pakistanis can enter…but you have a chief minister in Assam where Bangladeshis enter at will. It all depends on the leadership,” Modi said.
The Gujarat chief minister also addressed three more election rallies for BJP candidates in different parts of the state.