Modi targets youth ahead of assembly polls

AHMEDABAD: Targeting the youth ahead of the assembly elections slated by the year-end, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today listed the achievements of his government in the last five years while vowing that there would be no let up in the fight against terrorism.

"Those dancing with the bier of Sohrabuddin (Sohrabuddin ka zanaza lekar nachnewalon) should bear in mind that we would keep the fight on against terrorism," he said in reference to the fake encounter victim.

Modi was addressing a 'yuva sangam' organised here to commemmorate the 150th anniversary of the First War of Independence waged in 1857. The audience for the youth meet comprised college students from the city.

"Terrorism has to be tackled head-on. You cannot expect to contain terrorism with a soft approach like that is being done under the stewardship of the UPA Government."

Charging the Congress with spreading canard against him, the CM said it would not make any impact on the people who are very familiar with the Opposition party's skill to dabble in falsehoods.

Remembering nationalists like Bhagat Singh and Shyamji Krishna Verma who gave up their lives for the cause of the country, Modi said if India has to keep up its momentum of progress, it is important the youth of today lived on to realise their individual as well as collective dreams.

Describing his government as youth-friendly, the CM said during his tenure, several programmes were launched to create employment opportunities for them.