Bemetra/Kawardha: Targeting the Gandhi family, Narendra Modi on Thursday said on health grounds Sonia Gandhi should let the "shehzada" take over Congress and asked Rahul Gandhi whether central funds for Chattisgarh came from his "Mama's (maternal uncle) house".
Mounting a personal attack on the Congress President, Modi said, "Madam, you are ill. Let the shehzada (prince) take over". Modi has in his campaign speeches referred to Rahul as "shehzada". In Delhi, Congress hit back at Modi for his "low level" remarks and demanded that he apologise to the nation.
Also read: Congress demands apology from Modi on Sonia remarks
"We know Modi himself has no limits of decency, but he should at least think of the dignity of the party which has made him its PM candidate and apologise for the low level remarks", party spokesman Meem Afzal told reporters when asked about Modi's remarks on Sonia.
Citing multi-crore 2G and coal scams, Modi, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, also said Congress has done "PhD in corruption" and that it has become a burden on the country and sought its ouster.
Addressing a series of public meetings in poll-bound Chattisgarh including at Kawardha, home town of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Modi slammed the Congress for opposing opinion polls, saying fear of losing elections was the reason behind its "nonsensical" demand and "desperate" tactics.
Alleging that Congress' claims of giving massive funds to Chhattisgarh under various schemes is an insult to its people, Modi said, "Sonia madam and shehzada had come here.
They said so much foodgrains and funds were given. Are you people standing here with a begging bowl.... What kind of language is the Congress speaking". Asserting that the people have a right to central funds, he targeted the Congress Vice President and made a veiled dig at Sonia's Italian origin.
"I want to ask shehzada that you keep on saying that we gave so much money, I want to know if he got the money from his Mama's house. Did you give the money by taking it from your Mama's house?. This is the people's money," said Modi at his first rally at Bemetra, 90 km from Raipur.
