PM: Opposition spreading false propaganda against govt

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched his campaign for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections by demolishing the false propaganda unleashed against his government by the principal opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party.

While addressing his first poll rally of the second phase and the only one in Kerala at Cochin, he sought to silence his critics by listing the achievements his government made in the last 10 years in all sectors. Singh pointed out that he believed that only rapid economic development could eliminate poverty and create jobs for the youth.

“I am glad to note that poverty has declined three times faster than any other 10-year period in the history of the country. We have ensured that the benefits of the development have reached all sections of people and all regions of the country. We have done this despite two global economic recessions,” he said.

Referring to the allegations regarding rise in corruption during the UPA rule, the prime minister said that no other government in the country had taken the steps his government took to check corruption. “As soon as any wrong-doing was brought to our notice we took measures to bring the guilty to the book,” he added.

He lamented that the government could do more to fight corruption if the opposition had cooperated in getting the laws against corruption passed. The opposition that stalled the bills in parliament had no right to speak about corruption.

Singh pepped the Congress campaign in Kerala by pointing out projects worth Rs700 billion sanctioned by his government for the development of the state. He said that Kerala was able to utilise the potential for growth because of these projects.

He also lent a helping hand to his party’s candidate in Ernakulam and Minister for Food K.V. Thomas by highlighting the ‘distinguished’ role he played in making the UPA’s flagship food security scheme a reality.

The prime minister spared the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from direct attack. He indirectly referred to its divisive ideologies saying that Congress alone was able to counter it. The Left is losing its relevance because of its outdated ideologies and approaches.

The Left lost heavily in 2004 because of this. If they continue these policies it will further be decimated in the current election, said Singh, who steps down after completing his 10-year tenure in May.

Singh, who was the star campaigner for the UPA in 2009, is more or less a spectator this time. While he addressed only one rally in the first phase beginning on Monday, not more than 8-10 rallies have been scheduled for him in the second phase.

Though the prime minister faced criticism from party’s national spokesman and the candidate at nearby Chalakkuty constituency P.C. Chacko for his failure to communicate to the people his government’s achievements, he was keen to campaign in Kerala.

The low-key role of Singh in this election is also evident in the campaign front. He has been absent in the posters and banners put up by the Congress across the state seeking votes for the UPA. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi dominated the campaign materials as well as the commercials in the electronic media.

Singh is expected to go next to Uttar Pradesh, where the Congress is fighting a tough battle without allies. Ten seats in the northern state will be going to polls on April 10 along with Kerala. Another state where Singh is in demand is Punjab, his home state.

Rahul, the star campaigner for the UPA this time, had a whirlwind tour of the state on Saturday. He addressed four rallies in his one-day campaign in the state. His mother Sonia Gandhi will address two rallies at Trichur and Calicut on Monday, two days before the poll.

Apart from the three and Defence Minister A.K. Antony, other national leaders of the Congress and its allies skipped the state, where the Congress hopes to get maximum seats in south India.

Antony, who arrived in the state last week, has been leading the campaign crisscrossing the state.

news@khaleejtimes.com

• India