Modi taunts Congress for not naming Rahul as PM candidate

New Delhi: Hitting back at the Congress, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today taunted it for not naming Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate saying Sonia Gandhi wanted to save her son from being sacrificed politically in view of "imminent" defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.While attacking UPA's policies, Modi unveiled his vision for India, promising to develop 100 smart cities and set up IITs, IIMs and AIIMS in every state while projecting India as a brand worldwide.He talked about steps like creation of a 'Price Stabilisation Fund' and having a system of realtime data of agricultural produce to deal with the problem of inflation and creating more job opportunities to deal reduce poverty.At the National Council here, senior leader L K Advani cautioned the party against "over confidence" citing the example of 2004 even as he praised Modi, whose elevation as PM candidate he had been opposed initially.The Council adopted a political resolution which attacked the Congress and its government, saying they were responsible for slow economic growth, failure to check terrorism, vote bank politics, and decline of constitutional institutions.It said Congress had taken the "exit" route by not naming Rahul as PM candidate as he was "no match" to Modi and was equally responsible for the "ills" and "suffering" of the country.Taking the centre stage on the second and concluding day of the conclave, Modi questioned Congress' contention that it was following the tradition that PM should be elected by party MPs as he cited the case of Rajiv Gandhi in 1984 and Manmohan Singh in 2004.The BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate also responded to the 'chai wala' barbs at him by Congress leaders by invoking his backward class background and saying that "those born in an aristocratic family" feel below their dignity to contest against a tea vendor because of "feudal mindset".During his 75-minute speech at the conclusion of the two-day meet, he took digs at Rahul while referring to his address at AICC on Friday and attacked the UPA government over its policies.Insisting that the upcoming Lok Sabha polls are not only for a change in government but for meeting the hopes and aspirations of the country, Modi asked people to give "this servant" a chance to serve for 60 months when they have given chance to "rulers" for 60 years.The Gujarat Chief Minister, who is often attacked by Congress, said, "Woh naamdar hain aur mai kaamdar hun (they are big names and I am a worker)."Referring to the Congress decision of not naming Rahul as PM candidate, Modi said, "There are obviously political reasons. But I see a human angle behind this decision of Congress. When defeat is imminent, which mother will sacrifice her son politically? The heart of a mother (Sonia) decided to protect her son."He questioned Congress' contention that it was following the tradition of not naming a PM candidate as the person should be elected by the MPs. In this regard, he referred to 1984, saying Rajiv Gandhi was made as the Prime Minister hours after the assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi."About four people took the decision and Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in as the Prime Minister," he said.He also mentioned 2004, when Congress MPs elected Sonia Gandhi to be the Prime Minister but she instead nominated Manmohan Singh for the top job.Modi claimed that after Independence, "everyone" want Sardar Patel to be the Prime Minister but somehow Jawaharlal Nehru got the top post.Invoking his backward class background, he said, "How can people with big names contest against a worker? They feel insulted. For those born in higher clan cannot think of being pitted against a person born in a backward caste, whose mother used to clean utensils and fill water of others...How can they contest against someone who sold tea?"Responding to the comment by Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar that he should focus on selling tea than dreaming about becoming the Prime Minister, Modi said all the tea vendors are today feeling proud that one among them was contesting for the top post.The BJP leader has himself been saying that he used to sell tea in trains during his initial years.