Chhattisgarh polls: PM Modi puts Gandhi family in crosshairs at election rally in Bilaspur

Bilaspur | Patan: PM Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on Monday in Chhattisgarh, saying the motherson duo were out on bail over a case for committing fraud and were now trying to give a certificate to him.

On a day when 18 seats in the state went to polls in first phase, BJP’s top campaigners, Modi and party president Amit Shah, campaigned in second phase constituencies, training their guns on the Gandhi family.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly used the slogan 'Chowkidaar chor hai (watchman is the thief)’, alleging irregularities in the Rafale jet deal, to which Modi reacted on Monday. “The mother-son who are roaming around on bail for committing fraud are today giving a certificate to Modi. They are living their life on bail and distributing honesty certificates to others. People do not have much hope from such persons who have charges of corruption against them," Modi said in Bilaspur city.


He also targeted Congress leader Raj Babbar over his statement last week calling Naxals “misguided revolutionaries”.

“Only the BJP can finish Naxalism in this state, not those people who gave birth to Naxalism and nurtured it.

That is why they call Naxals as revolutionaries and keep on speaking in their defence,” Modi said.

BJP chief Shah, at a rally in Patan, also attacked the Congress over Babbar’s statement. "Congress leaders see revolutionaries in Naxals. Rahul Baba, if you see revolution in Naxalism, good for you. We see revolution in bringing development to people of this state," he said, speaking in the constituency of state Congress president Bhupesh Bhagel.

"Raj Babbar's statement will cost the Congress in Chhattisgarh the same way the 'neech' comment of Mani Shankar Aiyar on PM Modi had hurt the Congress in the Gujarat election.

The BJP will attack the Congress on Babbar's comment and milk it," a senior BJP functionary told ET.

While both Modi and Shah campaigned in Chhattisgarh while one of its regions voted, the Congress seemed to have missed a trick. Rahul Gandhi will be in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.

Modi also reacted for the first time to Congress’ attacks on the demonetisation exercise. “They ask me for hisaab (outcome) of demonetisation.

It is due to demonetisation that your fraud companies got caught and you had to seek bail in a fraud case. Why do you forget that you had to seek bail due to demonetisation exercise?" Modi asked.