Gujarat Elections 2012: Sonia Gandhi's speech devoid of substance, says Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has taunted Congress by asking it to come up with 'substantive issues' during the campaign for the assembly elections. Modi claimed on Thursday that Congress president Sonia Gandhi's address to a rally in Rajkot was devoid of any substance. "There was nothing in Soniaji's speech... it was devoid of any substance and when the media couldn't find anything interesting, they published big photographs of her," Modi said while addressing a rally in Dahod.

Sonia had refrained from personal attacks on Modi, though he had done so. Sonia chose to talk on politically neutral growth issues in her first address. Modi tried to drive home the point that the fear of polarisation forced Congress from making 'wreckless charges'. "They are scared and their leaders are speaking carefully... They fear that their utterances could go against them, leading to a debacle in the polls," Modi said.

Modi accused Congress of 'cheating' people by 'not honouring its promises' made ahead of the 2009 elections, and also 'defaming Gujarat by spreading falsehood'. "Congress had given an assurance of curbing price rise within 100 days of coming to power, prior to 2009 elections... Have they been able to do so, Modi asked. He said Sonia Gandhi, who kicked off her campaign from Chota Udepur, a tribal region, could not win any seats in the district. "This time, she began her campaign from Rajkot. The same fate awaits Congress in Rajkot.