Narendra Modi attacks Sonia Gandhi over coalgate, links her US visit to FDI reforms

Surajkund: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday for the first time attacked United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi in connection with the coal blocks allocation scam.

Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Executive, the Gujarat strongman quoted a foreign magazine which alleged that coal blocks were allocated by the government on the recommendations of Sonia's aide Ahmed Patel, which were later withdrawn. Modi said that the government must answer the questions on it.

He further attacked the Congress president over foreign direct investment (FDI) reforms questions why decisions were taken on it the very next day of the return of Sonia Gandhi from the US.

Calling the UPA government "anti-farmer", Modi also lashed out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accusing him of getting active only before the presidential elections in America.

Pointing that the Congress was adamant earlier on Indo-US nuclear deal and now FDI in retail, the BJP leader said, "I ask Prime Minister what is the problem. What is the reason to bring FDI? Why does PM get active whenever there is election in US? What is the relation?"

The Gujarat Chief Minister further pointed that even US President Barack Obama has been advocating its people to go to small businessmen to buy their things and avoid big retails and malls to help the economy, or else unemployment will increase.

"Why is it that when a liberal economy is advocating for small business retailers growth, we want to give way to FDI in retail?" questioned Modi.

The BJP leader then accused the UPA government of promoting export of beef, saying the target of the UPA was to "lead in beef export in international market".

Continuing his attack over the issue, Modi alleged that the UPA government was not interested in Green or White revolution, but its dream was to bring pink revolution.

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