Banihal: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is Congress candidate for Udhampur-Doda-Kathua Lok Sabha seat, today said that BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is not a threat to the Congress but he is a real threat to the BJP as he has gradually and systemically dislodged all established leaders of the party.
According to a statement issued to KNS, while addressing series of public meetings in Banihal and Ramban areas of Ramban district, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad said that “Narinder Modi has not challenged Congress but he has challenged the BJP”. Without mentioning names of veteran BJP leader Lal Krishan Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Jaswant Singh who were humiliated by Narinder Modi, Mr Azad said that treatment meted out the veteran leaders was an indication that Mr Modi is real threat to his party himself and he is going to bulldoze the BJP to establish his own hegemony in the organisation.
Unlike BJP which is fighting elections on rhetoric of Modi , Congress is contesting elections on historical back ground in freedom struggle, its’ tireless and continues efforts to develop infrastructure in the country, which includes roads, airports, railway lines, hospitals, Schools, Colleges, Universities and number of people oriented policies and programmes like NRHM and MNREGA schemes which have benefited the people of the country.
“BJP is solely dependent upon artificially managed leader who is trying to get votes of the people on myth and dream but the Congress is seeking mandate of the people on the basis of substantiated work it has done for nation building”, Mr Azad said and said that BJP candidate Narendra Modi has not done any substantiated work in his own state of Gujarat. He termed Narendra Modi as super imposed leader who himself is much against wishes of his own party leaders.
Highlighting achievements of UPA Government, he said that under Congress led UPA regime, India has achieved “near universal education” at the primary school level due to Right to Education and the dropout rates have also decreased. The outlay for education has been constantly increased. Central universities increased from 17 to 44 during 2004-13.
“There has been a three-fold increase in food subsidy during UPA tenure. The Food Security Act will entitles 35 kg of food-grains per month and other families for 5 kg per person at subsidized rates has been passed during UPA regime”, he said.
Lambasting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for misleading the people by spreading false propaganda against Congress, Mr Azad said, “In comparison to the hard work and tireless efforts made by Congress for the people of nation, the track record of BJP in general and Narendera Modi in particular is mostly based on rhetoric rather than substantiating work done by them”. Mr Azad further sought to know from Narendera Modi about his contribution so far in nation building.
While cautioning the people not to fall in the nefarious designs of divisive forces, Mr Azad said, “Congress and its leadership is a fact and truth, whereas so-called artificially managed leadership of BJP is simply myth and dream. People should vote to Congress on the basis of its work done in both pre and post independence era”.
Attacking on the incompetency of BJP leadership, Mr Azad, “He (Modi) has political career of thirteen years only, whereas the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir have given more time in rendering the services to the people of the state” and criticized his approach for dishonoring the wish of his own mentor (LK Advani) who placed him on the chair of Gujarat chief minister. Mr Azad said, “Earlier the BJP-Congress used to contest elections on the basis of ideology and now an artificially managed face has been projected on a hoax to come in power”.
Earlier, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president, Prof. Saifuddin Soz described Narendera Modi as Hitler perceiving the false propagandas to rule.
Among others who accompanied Mr Azad included Congress Minister for Technical Education, Vikar Rasool, Congress MLA, Ashok Kumar, Former Minister and sitting MLA, Abdul Gani Malik, Congress MLC, Sham Lal Bhagat, former NC MLA from Ramban, Dr Chaman Lal besides other senior leaders. (KNS)