Modi takes on father-son duo of Mulayam, Akhilesh; Gujarat CM has 'blood on his hands', says SP chief

Varanasi/Gorakhpur: Narendra Modi and Mualayam Singh Yadav trained guns on each other at two rallies that took place in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

The BJP's PM candidate took on the 'father-son' duo of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, saying the ruling SP had 'destroyed' Uttar Pradesh and asked its supremo whether he knew the meaning of converting his state to Gujarat.

Modi, the BJP prime ministerial candidate, also sharpened his attack on the Congress, observing that the country was not poor but has been kept poor because of the misdeeds of political parties like it for sake of politics.

He said the people of the country have already decided the result of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and that 'farewell' of Congress and its allies was certain.

Addressing a large rally in this eastern UP town, the BJP leader heaped scorn on Mulayam for saying he(Modi) will not be able to convert UP into Gujarat.

"Netaji, do you know the meaning of converting to Gujarat? It means 24-hour electricity in every village and street. You can't do it. It requires 56-inch chest," Modi said, apparently suggesting that it requires decisiveness.

Mulayam, who also addressed a rally on Thursday in Varanasi, tore into Modi over the 2002 riots in Gujarat, taunting him that he won't be able to turn UP into Gujarat. He said the Gujarat Chief Minister has the 'blood of innocents' on his hands.

"Modi is responsible for the communal riots in Gujarat. He has the blood of innocents on his hands," SP chief said.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav addresses a public meeting in Varanasi on Thursday. UP CM Akhilesh Yadav and party leader Azam Khan are also seen - PTI

Modi said Gujarat had been living a life of 'peace and harmony' for the last 10 years which was beyond Mulayam, whom he referred as 'netaji' in his address.

Taunting Mulayam and Akhilesh for holding rallies which coincide with his public addresses, he said, "The father and the son are chasing me."

If elected to power, BJP government will bring about a 'white-revolution' in UP which despite being an agriculture state was buying milk from outside, Modi said in his 45-minute address. Stressing the need for giving priority to agriculture in the country, he said BJP had vowed to develop UP which was capable of changing the face of the country if developed to its potential.

Modi, who addressed the rally shortly after Mulayam's rally, said the SP had "destroyed" the state by squandering its big mandate in the 2012 assembly polls by not delivering peace, jobs to the youth and progress to farmers.

Modi also hit out at Congress for 'chai-wala' barbs, saying the ruling party was mocking at the poor whom it has used only as a vote-bank without doing anything for them.

"This country is not poor. The people of this rich country has been kept poor for the sake of politics... You give me 60 months and I promise you a life of happiness and peace," he added.

Earlier, Mulayam asked BJP how could it select Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate when 'atrocities and massacres' were carried out in the state ruled by him, an apparent reference to the post-Godhra riots in 2002 when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

"A rally is on in Gorakhpur where the chief guest is the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. They say, they'll create a Gujarat (here). But please think again, you will not be in a position to do a Gujarat. You'll do a Gujarat, commit atrocities and massacres. Because this is what you have done there," he said addressing a rally in Varanasi.

Comparing the performance of the Gujarat government with that of UP, headed by his son Akhilesh, Mulayam asked the assembled crowd to find out whether the Gujarat government had given unemployment allowances, waived loans of farmers or given special facilities to women.

"They have not done any of these....You know BJP doesn't have any other work but to spread rumours," he said.

Modi has often touted the Gujarat model of development for the progress of his state.

Mulayam also reiterated that no government would be formed after the Lok Sabha elections without the Samajwadi Party(SP). Attacking Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, the former UP Chief Minister said scams and high inflation have severely hit the economy.

"Now who is responsible for the situation even after such a long time since the country gained independence. In Delhi, barring some time, it is Congress that has been ruling and it still in power.

"What have they done in these five years? What has happened apart from scams? There have been scams, atrocities, inflation and corruption. Inflation and scams have brought the country to a standstill," Yadav said.

The SP chief said he has been a witness to several discussions on scams and inflation in Lok Sabha but it has not given any result.

"So many discussion were held on scams. And in every session there was a discussion on inflation. But they could not control inflation. It is because of inflation that thousands lost their lives and with regret I say, this happened even in UP," he said.