The Hindu : Clash averted at Modi's rally

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003

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Other States - Himachal Pradesh

Clash averted at Modi's rally

By Our Staff Reporter

Solan (HP) Feb. 24. A clash between the supporters of the official and rebel BJP candidates was averted during a rally of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, here today.

It all began with the supporters of M.N. Sofat, a BJP rebel who had spearheaded a campaign against the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, shouting slogans over loud speakers as soon as Mr. Modi started to address a gathering near the local bus stand.

Mr. Sofat's supporters were assembled at the nearby election office.Mr. Modi requested the police personnel to intervene but to no avail. However, despite the commotion, Mr. Modi completed his speech before the election campaign ended at 5 p.m.

He repeatedly said: "I want the campaign to end peacefully''.

Most of his speech was directed against the "Italy ki beti" and the Congress. He said that it was for the first time that the issue of beef-eating was being raised by anyone in the country. He charged that the Congress could "stoop to any level to capture power".He blamed the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, for forging alliances with "extremists for capturing power in Jammu and Kashmir". Some more extremists were expected to be released after the Himachal elections and these were the ones responsible for killing a number of soldiers of this hill State, Mr. Modi alleged.

Ms. Gandhi and the Congress were responsible for "stabbing the Himachal people in the back". The Congress, which tried its best to make corruption a poll issue, did not talk about it during the past five years.

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