Modi hits back at PM for playing minority card, accuses him of indulging in votebank politics

Ahmedabad: There are three days to go for the first phase of the Gujarat elections and Chief Minister Narendra Modi turned the heat on the UPA government. Speaking at a rally in Surat, he accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of playing votebank politics.

In a war of words, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi attacked each other ocer minority politics. "Minorities in Gujarat feel that they are unsafe in Gujarat," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, to which Modi replied, "You've been given a befitting reply by the girl who was imprisoned by the Mumbai police for her Facebook comment. The girl, a daughter of Muslim parents has said she feels safe in Gujarat. PM sir, she has given a slap on your face."

Narendra Modi took on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for playing the minority card and raising a question on the security of minorities in Gujarat. Not just this, Modi who is running for a fourth term in the state, slammed the PM for indulging in vote bank politics.

This is for the first time that the Congress in the run up to these 2012 polls has brought up the minority issue.

"It's sad that the PM discussed votebank politics instead of development politics. Mr Prime Minister, I allege that your defeat in Gujarat polls is confirmed," Modi said.

This is for the first time that the Congress in the run up to these 2012 polls has brought up the minority issue. So far, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party leaders have deliberately avoided mentioning minorities in their speeches. But now as the battle for Gujarat gains momentum, Modi will use the minority issue to his advantage.

"Thousands of people have lost their lives in the communal riots of Assam. But Gujarat has not seen a single incident of rioting in the past 10 years," Modi said.

Also See

• Manmohan Singh playing votebank politics with minorities: Narendra Modi
• Gujarat polls: Cong doesn't divide and rule, says PM

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)