BJP-Congress war of words in full swing

New Delhi: As first phase of General Elections 2009 gets closer, the verbal duels between the BJP and Congress have gotten nastier.

Having degenerated from just between an exchange between two prime ministerial candidates speaking at public functions, it has now culminated into a full fledged war for words, almost like a free for all.

The two men have now been joined by every one from either side of the political divide of the Congress and BJP, attacking, counter attacking and replying to every allegation, every charge.

Weak PM

Advani had called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a weak PM. "My harshest comment on the Prime Minister has been that he has proved a weak Prime Minister particularly because he has for the first time in a democracy devalued the high office of Prime Minister," said L K Advani.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh perceived that as an attack on him and countered it thus: "Weakness or strength doesn't come by loud-speaking. It comes from, I think, your capacity to act in time and with determination in difficult circumstances."

Congress weak on terror

On the allegation that Congress was weak on terror, Singh replied, "What did the BJP government do? The BJP government surrendered to the terrorists. When a large number of our citizens were taken hostage, we did not negotiate with the terrorists. We sent brave commandoes and they did us proud by killing nine and capturing one (terrorist)."

Rahul Gandhi is not far behind with his rhetoric on the same topic. He said, "Now, Mr Advani stated that he did not know about the flight to Kandahar, of Mr Jaswant Singh, that he did not know that these three people were being taken along. Now, my question to Mr Advani is that if he is such a strong leader how could he have been Home Minister of this country and not known something so fundamental?"

BJP, a threat to India

On Sonia Gandhi's statement that BJP is a threat to India, Advani said, "It is a slanderous statement. In fairness to everyone in the country to her own party, to her own colleagues, to the tone and tenor of the Parliament debate on 26.11 now, she should apologise for this statement."

Congress, an old lady

On Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's comment that Congress is a 125 year-old woman, Congress spokesperson B Hariprasad said, "First he should dump Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the other oldest man who is in a hurry to become prime minister - Mr Advani, should be dumped into the Arabian Sea.

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