Want to serve, not rule; for BJP it is ‘Nation first, India first’: Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Stating that he has no wish to rule, and only a desire to serve the country, BJP's Prime Miniterial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday said, "For us it is always Nation first, India first." Modi asked people to trust BJP to bring progress to the country.

Stating that UPA can never do well for the country, Modi said, “Because of this government, we have become a laughing matter for the world.”

Accusing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of marketing the country’s poverty to US President Barack Obama, Modi on Sunday questioned, “You called our nation poor. Is this poverty your state of mind?”

Raking up the issue of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s barb at Singh, Modi said, “If people of his own party do not respect the PM, why will Sharif.”

“We might criticize the Prime Minister, but what he ( Rahul Gandhi) did has given liberty to leaders on the international front to humiliate Singh,” Modi added.

“Bad governance is like diabetes. It invites more diseases to ruin the entire body,” Modi said. “The world is fast moving forward, while we are rapidly moving backwards,” Modi added.

Talking about the key sectors under the central government, Modi said that China has beaten India in the department of Railways. “China s now competing with Japan, while we have been left behind in terms of development of railway lines and routes,” Modi said. “Be it national highways or the aviation sector, we have made hardly any progress,” Modi added.

Modi hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit stating that she spends her time cutting ribbons. “The happiest CM in India is Delhi’s Chief Minister. She has no work other than cutting ribbons,” Modi said. “Delhi CM has absolved herself of all responsibilies,” he added.

Raising the issue of Common Wealth Games Modi said, “CWG was not only about money loss. It not only raided our coffers, it robbed us of our future, affected our sportsman spirit,” he said. “CWG scam has robbed India of its prestige.”

Addressing the BJP’s Vikas rally in Delhi Modi said, “Government is the strength of the nation and people. But Delhi is a place that is burdened by many governments.” “Delhi’s condition is such that every department has become a government in itself,” Modi added.

BJP leader Nitin Gadkari also took to the dais and said that Congress is scared of Narendra Modi. “This is the same Congress that has misused the CBI,” he said.

Earlier, MP Navjot Singh Sidhu addressed the rally and questioned the extent to which the government can stoop. "The rupee is falling, Congress has led economy to dire straits."

Post his announcement as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Modi has spoken at many rallies across the country.