In two separate rallies in tribal dominated Mandla and Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, where voting will take place on April 10, the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi accused the Congress and its vice-president Rahul Gandhi — whom he referred to as “Shahzade” or Islamic prince — of evading accountability.
“The Congress' arrogance is on seventh heaven. Shouldn't the government in Delhi give an account of their work? Those who don't care about the people have no right to rule India, Mr. Modi said.
Referring to Mr. Gandhi's recent private interaction with tendu gatherers in Mandla, Mr. Modi asked, “Shahzade came here and met women. Did he talk about price rise?”
“In 2009 when they came to power they promised to cut prices in 100 days. The Madhya Pradesh Elections are over and the Lok Sabha polls are close, but no Congress leader is willing to answer these questions... They speak as if they are from Mars. They go are giving sermons. This irresponsible party will destroy India's aspirations. That's why we need a Congress-free India,” he added.
Mr. Modi told voters in Mandla — a seat reserved for STs held by the Congress — where India's first minister of state for tribal affairs Faggan Singh Kulhaste of the BJP is facing the Congress' Omkar Markam, that the Congress had done nothing for tribals in since Independence.
“It was Atal ji who created the tribal affairs ministry and gave it a separate budget. I challenge any State government to say that they have done more work for Adivasis in education and agriculture that BJP States have,” he said.
Mr. Modi used the word Adivasi (aborigine) and not Vanvasi (forest dweller) which is preferred by the BJP and its ideological guide, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The RSS holds that even non tribals are original inhabitants of the sub continent.
Mr. Modi added that a BJP victory will not be a loss or win for individual parties but a success for a prosperous India with a strong foundation.
“I understand CM Shivraj Chouhan's pain. The Centre treats States as enemies. They think of themselves as elder brothers and us as younger. No one is above or below. All are equal and our vision is to bring this respect for federalism into the culture of the union government,” he said.
In Balaghat, Mr. Modi praised Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan for converting Madhya Pradesh from a backward State into a developing State. “Such is his (Chouhan's) might that in 10 years he has laid double the length of roads than were laid here in 40 years; he has produced two-and-a-half times electricity than was produced in 40 years,” Mr. Modi said.
Mr. Chouhan urged cadre to go to each village and get everyone to vote.
Bodh Singh Bhagat of the BJP faces the Congress' Hina Kawre in Maoist-hit Balaghat that also has a sizeable Marathi speaking population. The BJP has held the seat since 1998.
