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Anand Sharma warns Modi phenomenon 'ominous for democracy'

Taking a dig at Modi for claiming at Varanasi that he was sent by God, Sharma questioned the necessity of elections

Anand Sharma

Press Trust of India Shimla
Lambasting the BJP-RSS combine for projecting Narendra Modi as the sole leader of the country, Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma today warned that the 'Modi phenomenon' was ominous for parliamentary democracy.

Addressing a press conference here, Sharma said that through "an aggressive and systematic campaign" a personality cult around one individual had been created which would lead to dictatorship and concentration of power.

"An aggressive campaign with unprecedented resources has been launched to project Modi. But this government would not be of BJP or its ideology, but of Modi which is ominous for our parliamentary democracy," he said.

"The BJP-RSS, keen to grab power at any cost, created this personality cult around one individual with a sinister design. But it would lead to dictatorship and concentration of power in one hand which does not augur well for parliamentary system of governance," Sharma cautioned.
 
Accusing the BJP's prime ministerial candidate of bringing down the level of political discourse to a new low, the Union Minister said Modi was using intemperate language and dubbed him arrogant, intolerant and without any compassion.

Taking a dig at Modi for claiming at Varanasi that he was sent by God, Sharma questioned the necessity of elections.

"It is insult of 125 crore people of India. When God has already sent Modi to become prime minister, why should we hold the elections at all?" he asked.

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First Published: May 05 2014 | 5:25 PM IST

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