The Hindu : National : Modi communalising every issue: Moily

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Modi communalising every issue: Moily

Special Correspondent

Congress complains to Election Commission against BJP advertisements

Modi “is not accountable to anyone, be it the people, the Constitution or his own party”
"Major terrorist attacks took place during the National Democratic Alliance regime"

NEW DELHI: Congress media committee chairman Veerappa Moily on Friday described party president Sonia Gandhi as “Goddess Durga” and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a “demon.”

Last day of campaign

On the last day of campaign for the final phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections, the Congress also filed a complaint with the Election Commission against BJP advertisements in local newspapers questioning the delay in implementing the Supreme Court decision to punish those convicted in the Parliament attack case.

The Congress said the advertisements violated the model code of conduct, which “restrains a political party or candidate from any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.”

Mr. Moily alleged that Mr. Modi was attempting to “communalise and politicise every issue. He “is not accountable to anyone, be it the people, the Constitution or his own party high command. ... He is like ‘Raktabeejasura,’ a single drop of whose blood can give rise to thousands of more ‘Raktabeejas.’ That kind of person is not fit to be in the democratic set-up of the country.”

Turnout at Modi’s meetings

Asked about news reports of Mr. Modi’s meetings attracting huge crowds, Mr. Moily said, “Even Hitler attracted crowds. The oratory skills of even Hitler were unbeatable. Do you want another Hitler?”

BJP’s record questioned

Questioning the BJP’s record in containing terrorism, he said major attacks started with the release of three dreaded terrorists, including Azar Masood.

“The major terrorist attacks — be it on the Akshardham temple, Parliament, the Raghunath temple and Amarnath pilgrims — took place during the National Democratic Alliance regime and despite POTA being in place. The demolition of the Babri Masjid, the Kargil war … with these incidents, India became vulnerable.”

On Afzal Guru, who has been convicted and sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case, Mr. Moily said the law would take its course.

“His mercy petition is there. You cannot jump the procedure because that would not be democratic.”

Accusing Mr. Modi of politicising the Afzal Guru case, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said that between 1998 and 2004, 19 mercy petitions were pending, including that of those convicted of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

In the Purulia arms drop case, Peter Bleach was released and allowed to leave the country during the NDA rule.

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