National

Modi set to counter Amarinder

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA FEB. 18. The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, has not denied the charge that he was exporting Hindutva, which he preferred to call BJP's `cultural nationalism' from his state to Himachal Pradesh. Arriving for the first time after the Gujarat victory to the state of which he was party incharge for a long time, his three days' stay here is being considered a crucial factor in the BJP campaign.

Mr. Modi avoided a number of questions in the press conference and said he would answer them in his coming public rallies. But the BJP which saved the Modi `trump card' for the last leg of campaign, was looking upset today as the weather gods played spoilsport.

Due to inclement weather only a handful of people are turning up for the rallies. There was widespread rain and hailstorm for the third consecutive day today.

Mr. Modi was to address four public rallies in the state in two days. When asked what issues he would highlight at the rallies, he said he would focus on the development undertaken by the Dhumal Government in the state, the BJP's ideals and values and the special blessings of Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee on the state. Corruption, he said, can never become a poll issue here as there were only allegations of graft without any real basis.

On the involvement of two Punjab Ministers in a call girl racket in Gujarat, he said the Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh and the Congress was flouting the Constitution by deciding that the accused ministers will not cooperate with the investigating agencies of the Gujarat Government.

He said the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi was answerable on this issue. ``Why didn't she take suo motu action against the Punjab Ministers?'', he asked. ``She should have shown at least some sensitivity as a woman, but she chose to keep quiet'' he said.

Explaining the reasons for the delay in investigations in this case, Mr. Modi said the new Gujarat Government was only two months old and the media was being misled, whereas the investigations are on since the beginning.

In the raids photographs of these ministers, with the people who are guilty and now behind bars, have been found. The Gujarat Government has acted on the basis of facts and not on media reports, he added.

The aggressive campaigner of the BJP, seen as an answer to the Punjab Chief Minister, is expected to counter him mainly in the public rallies.

Mr. Modi spoke at length today on how Capt. Singh stayed in a hotel room not booked in his name and how his not joining the investigations pointed the needle of suspicion to his Ministers.

On the election outcome in Himachal, he said, ``The prospects are better this time and next I will come only for the oath ceremony.''

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu