BJP, Shiv Sena wearing "mask of development": Sonia Gandhi

BRAHMAPURI (MAHARASHTRA): Accusing BJP and Shiv Sena of being hand-in-glove, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today said their "only aim is to spread hatred" and asked the voters not to be misled by their "mask of development".

She also claimed that "social tension" in BJP-ruled states was impeding their growth.

"Today BJP and Shiv Sena are making you believe they are fighting their battles separately, but in reality they are one and only causing confusion among voters. Don't lower your guard and don't be misled by their mask of development," she said addressing an election rally here.

She said the two saffron parties only spread hatred among the people and make them fight each other.

"You have tried them before. Don't you remember what happened while they were in power? Vasooli (extortion) was rampant and there was an atmosphere of fear everywhere. Their only aim is to spread hatred among people and make people fight each other," she said.

Sonia said promises made by BJP during Lok Sabha campaign were a "farce" and are yet to be fulfilled.

"There is social tension in BJP-ruled states. People are being exploited and this is stalling their development. They might make new promises everyday, but there can be no progress unless you work very hard for it with grit and determination," she said.

"BJP made a lot of promises during Lok Sabha elections, but has anything happened? Have the prices of essential commodities gone down? Have they been able to generate employment for our youth? They have made nothing but false promises," she said.

"When Modi went to America, who knows what he did there, but he has ensured that prices of lifesaving medicines go up exponentially, thus burdening the common man. How will common man survive now? Is this why we have a government? A government's job is to work for the people," the Congress leader said.

Taunting BJP, Sonia said the Centre was taking credit for various schemes initiated by the UPA government.

"BJP is making everyone feel that everything good has happened after they came to power. In reality, they are only concluding what we started. While we were in power, we were made fun of, but today, whatever we did is being carried forward. We are not in the business of taking credit for someone else's work," she said.

The Congress president said during the last 15 year,s the party's government worked hard for the development of Maharashtra and Vidarbha and ensured that the Adivasis and poor were not exploited.