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BJP denies Congress charges of poll expenses of Rs 10,000 cr

Alleges it was Congress party's poor attempt to diver attention from scams worth Rs 5.5 lakh cr exposed by CAG

Rajnath Singh
Sanjay Jog Mumbai
Last Updated : Apr 17 2014 | 6:38 PM IST
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday denied Congress party's allegation that it was spending more than Rs 10,000 crore on poll campaigning. ''It is Congress party's desperate attempt to hide scams worth Rs 5.50 lakh crore brought to the light by the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) during their audits and also divert the attention of the people during poll process. The Congress party is auditing BJP's poll expenses instead of looking into what led to those scams. We have not engaged any Congress party's friends as our auditor. We will release necessary details after the polling is over,'' the party president Rajnath Singh noted.

Singh, who was in a campaign trail in Maharashtra, also sharpened its attack against the Congress party alleging that it was the most communal party and divided the country on communal and religious lines. Singh said his party believes in justice for all and appeasement of none. He also added that BJP led NDA will get a clear majority by winning 300 plus seats in the elections to the 16th Lok Sabha. He strongly justified his recent meetings with the muslim clerics saying that it was not similar to what Imam Bukhari had with the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He clarified that neither he nor BJP had sought political support during the ongoing elections unlike Congress party.

On BJP's attempt to woo muslim and dalit leaders, Singh said that BJP never believes in the politics of appeasement but of inclusive politics. ''BJP is not for communal and divisive politics. It is the Congress party which is divisive. We believe in cultural nationalism,'' he opined.

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On the 10-year rule of Congress led UPA, Singh said it has failed on every front including economy, internal and external security and diplomacy. ''Investment environment has been drastically affected and both domestic and foreign direct investments have substantially fallen. During 2013 India's domestic investment was reported at $7 billion which is quite low compared to other countries who have received over $30 billion. During UPA rule the economy has completely derailed,'' he claimed.

On BJP's secret alliance with Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in Maharashtra, Singh clarified that there was no tacit understanding with MNS. ''Our alliance is quite intact with Shiv Sena and it will continue to be there during the state assembly elections slated for October this year,'' he said.

He down played Raj Thackeray's decision to extend MNS support to BJP nominee Gopinath Munde in Beed constituency. ''There is no MNS candidate in Beed,'' he replied.

Only Modi has moral authority to be PM: Rajnath Singh

BJP president Rajnath Singh on Thursday set at rest speculation about change of plans after elections sand  "only Narendra Modi will be the PM." He expressed confidence that the NDA will reach the 300-seat mark.

Singh told reporters that "Let me clarify that under any circumstances, it will be Modi who will be the prime minister. A moral authority is needed for the post besides administrative acumen. We have been projecting Modi for the PM's post," he told reporters.

BJP president was responding to a question about  about speculation of his (Singh's) being in the reckoning for the top job to rope in new allies, considering Modi's divisive image, should NDA fail to get a clear majority.

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First Published: Apr 17 2014 | 6:25 PM IST

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