Modi says Nitish and Lalu 'protecting terrorists', Sonia must 'stop lecturing' on tolerance

Purnea: In a stinging counter-attack on Congress for raising the issue of “intolerance”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today raked up the 1984 anti-Sikh riots saying it should hang its head in shame for the carnage instead of doing the “drama” of lecturing the NDA government. Wrapping up his campaign ahead of the last phase of the Bihar Elections, Modi took aim at Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav too, saying they are “protecting terrorists.” [caption id=“attachment_2482918” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Narendra Modi[/caption] “After the blasts in Pune and Mumbai, one term that was coined and widely used was the Darbhanga (terror) module. Some people are out to spread terror in India. A Dalit police officer was investigating the Darbhanga module and tried to establish terror links. The leaders of the Grand Alliance did not like it and the woman police officer was forced to leave Bihar. These people are protecting terrorists. Do you want a government in Patna that protects terrorists? Does the land of Bihar need those exploding bombs?” Modi said. “Today is November 2. Do you recall 1984? Lakhs of Sikhs were massacred in Delhi and across India on the second, third and fourth day of Indira Gandhi’s killing in which serious allegations were made against Congress and its leaders. Today, on the same day, Congress party is giving lecture on the issue of tolerance. ‘Doob maro, doob maro’. This does not behove you. “The tears in the eyes of the Sikh victims have not yet dried. Their wounds have not healed and you are doing this ‘dramebaazi’ on November 2,” the Prime Minister said addressing an election rally in Seemanchal region of Purnea where the last phase of Bihar polls are due on November 5. The remarks of Modi came as the Congress top leadership decided to meet President Pranab Mukherjee to raise the issue of “intolerance”. It also came a day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi voiced concern on the issue at a function in the national capital and vowed to fight the “diabolical design” of divisive forces to spread hatred, which posed a threat to the unity of the country. Taking a dig, Modi “thanked” Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad for giving 40 seats to Congress saying these seats will easily come in BJP’s kitty. “Both Lalu ji and Nitish Ji have been fighting against Congress for long. There may be some compulsion of both of them that they have given forty seats to Congress, a party which is non-existent in Bihar. “I am thanking both of them for one thing that both gave us 40 seats without a challenge. We have thus got the 40 seats on a platter. I thank Lalu ji and Nitish ji for these 40 seats given to Congress. For the rest, I am thanking people of Bihar,” Modi said. The Prime Minister also held that Nitish Kumar’s rise in the state politics was due to “blessings” of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and people voted for him as they were desperate to get rid of ‘jungle raj’. “People had faith in the capability of Vajpayee ji. Hence they supported you. Now you no longer have Atalji’s blessings. People will not trust you,” he said, claiming that Mahagathbandhan leaders are “scared” of his visits to Bihar. The Prime Minister said while he talked of uplifting Bihar through development, the Grand Alliance leaders tried to enact a “drama” and gave “casteist colour” to the assembly polls by spreading “imaginary fears” about a move to scrap quotas. “They are spreading imaginary fear and lies about reservation and their courtiers sitting in Delhi are also shouting loudly. I have exposed them (Lalu and Nitish) and they are unable to stand up. They sought review of reservation in Parliament and from a common platform on 23 July and 24, 2005. They wanted to reduce the reservation for dalits, tribals and backwards and to give it on religious lines to a particular community, so they could remain in power. “I have punctured their balloon and they are now unable to stand up and face the public … Now when I have exposed them by releasing their video and speeches, they have stopped talking of reservation over the past week and are running away,” he said. IANS