SP, BSP, Congress misleading people under veil of secularism: Modi

Accusing SP, BSP and Congress was using secularism as a poll slogan and a tool to grab power, Modi said for BJP secularism is about uniting people and ensuring development.

“Secularism is an article of faith for us. It is to unite people and do development...For them it's a tool to grab power and an election slogan,” the BJP leader said.

Taking on the SP supremo, whom he repeatedly addressed as “netaji”, Modi claimed that Mulayam had conceded defeat today by admitting that he cannot compete on the crowds at rallies and also by bringing the debate to the development agenda. He also attacked his government for increased crime and atrocities on women.

“Netaji (Mulayam) has conceded defeat in his address in the SP rally...by saying he cannot compete with the crowd at my rally...By talking about development, Yadav has been forced (by us) to leave his old ways and come to this topic...

“I have been talking about politics of development for past 10 years and I am happy to learn that netaji has been forced to talk about development,” Modi said.

He said instead of giving false facts about Gujarat, it would have been better if he (Mulayam) would have given an account of work done by him in UP.

“He is spreading lies about Gujarat...He should first visit Gujarat and see that electricity is available there 24 hours, 365 days while in UP there is no power. In UP, there is reservation as far as distribution of electricity is concerned. Areas of ‘netaji' are getting power, while other places did not have power...,” he said.

On the law and order front, Modi alleged that “due to hooliganism of SP leaders, 45 per cent of the nation's crimes took place right under your (Mulayam's) nose.

“There were over 20,000 cases of atrocities against women in UP alone...In Kanpur, medical students were manhandled by aides of an MLA and later lathicharged by the police and faced brutality by them due to which doctors in the entire state are agitating...

“The politics of hooliganism will not be tolerated anymore ...These misdeeds say everything and I do not need to elaborate,” Modi said.

He said there were two camps in Samajwadi Party – one ‘Samaj Virdohi Party' and another ‘Sukhwadi Party', which is engaged in fun and entertainment.