In Pics: Narendra Modi's Rally in Maharashtra and Karnataka

Blaming UPA's policies for the spate of farmer suicides in Vidarbha, Narendra Modi today said the Centre chose to ban cotton exports, badly hitting cultivators, but provided subsidy on mutton export. “They have turned Lal Bahadur Shastri's slogan of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' into ‘Mar Jawan, Mar Kisan'. Pakistan beheads our soldiers and our Government feeds Pakistan PM chicken biryani,” the BJP leader said addressing a rally, where he attacked Union Agriculture Minister and Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. Referring to farmer suicides in Vidarbha, Modi said Gujarat too had cotton growers, but they were not taking the extreme step like their counterparts in Maharashtra's cotton belt.“Like in Vidarbha there were cotton growers in Gujarat and it too had to face drought. But, farmers in Gujarat did not think of ending their lives. In Vidarbha cotton production is 280 kg per hectare, while in Gujarat it is 630 kg,” he said.The Centre has not equipped the farmers with even the basic techniques to improve their production quality, leaving them with no choice but to commit suicide, he alleged. Modi blamed Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and the Congress for the plight of farmers. The Gujarat CM slammed the Centre for banning cotton export, but providing subsidy on mutton export. “Because of ban on cotton export farmers in Gujarat suffered losses of Rs 7,000 crore. Imagine what farmers in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh must have suffered.Dubbing the Congress manifesto as “dhokha patra” (betrayal document), Modi said the party has promised employment to 10 crore people when in ten years of UPA rule, it gave employment to only 1.25 crore people. Hitting out at Rahul, Modi said, “shehzada came to Vidarbha recently and criticised Gujarat's development. He has been coming to Gujarat since 2002...but people of Gujarat paid no heed to him as they know the facts about the State.“But ‘Shehzada' is not answering questions related to UPA's performance.” This was BJP stalwart's second election meeting in Vidarbha after the one in Amravati earlier in the day.Narendra Modi today mocked at Rahul Gandhi for giving ticket to “tainted” former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and accused NCP chief Sharad Pawar of failing to stop farmers' suicides in Maharashtra.Modi slammed the Congress for being “shameless” by stating that no law stops Chavan from contesting polls.“Though Shahzada (Rahul) has said he won't compromise with corruption and action will taken in the case, Chavan was given the ticket,” he said.“Can anyone think of a scam over widows of heroes who died in Kargil? Its not about a building in Mumbai or giving flats to in-laws,” he said.Promising action on Adrash scam, he said no one will be spared when the new government assumes power after May 16.Flaying the local body tax, he said, “LBT is nothing but Looto Baato Tax. This tax is ruining the farmers of Maharashtra.”In Akola, Modi blasted UPA's policies for the spate of farmer suicides in Vidarbha in the last few years. Gujarat, he said, too had cotton growers, but they were not taking the extreme step like their counterparts in Maharashtra's cotton belt.“Like in Vidarbha there were cotton growers in Gujarat and his state, too, had to face drought. But, farmers in Gujarat did not think of ending their lives. In Vidarbha cotton production is 280 kg per hectare, while in Gujarat it is 630 kg,” he said, addressing a rally here. Taking on the Congress, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate said, “In 1857, the call was to free India from British and in 2014 the call is to free India from Congress”. “Be it unemployment or farmers, they are just not bothered. Sadly, these people in Congress do not know what poverty is,” he charged.Once again referring to Rahul Gandhi as ‘shahzada', Modi said, “Does the shahzada know the pain of sleeping without shelter on cold nights.”Modi also referred to the past survey of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) on Gujarat to attack Rahul Gandhi.“RGF has said in its survey that Gujarat is the most developed and progressive state. So are you questioning it (Foundation) in which your mother is chairperson?” Modi asked. “These elections are a fight for good governance. After 16th May there will be time for good governance.” Training his guns on Rahul, Modi asked why he wastargeted shying away from UPA government's performance. The Gujarat CM slammed the Centre for banning cotton export, but providing subsidy on mutton export. Modi took a dig at Finance Minister P Chidambaram, saying, “There is a very intelligent person in Congress....A budgetary provision was done in Budget after the Nirbhaya incident in Delhi. However, they (Central government) have not spent a single penny from the Nirbhaya fund. It's an eyewash”.