BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi today raked up the 'murder' of local Youth Congress leader Kalpana Giri, allegedly by a senior office-bearer, to criticise Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the Central government over their "insensitivity" towards security of women.
"Several years ago a Congress leader killed his wife and burnt her body in a tandoor. From tandoor to Latur, the character of the party has remained the same and parents of Kalpana Giri have to run around seeking justice for their daughter," Modi said, campaigning for BJP candidate Sunil Gaikwad on the home turf of former chief minister and Congress leader (late) Vilasrao Deshmukh. Congress has fielded Dattatreya Bansode from this seat reserved for SC.
Recalling how the Delhi gang rape case had left the country shaken, Modi said ,"Soniaji...You are a woman, Delhi chief minister was a woman and the Union home minister is from Maharashtra... The UPA made provision of Rs 1,000 crore as 'Nirbhaya' fund and not a rupee was spent. In the interim budget, a provision for another Rs 1,000 crore was made. This government is so thick-skinned that it is an expert in misleading the people."
He took a dig at state home minister R R Patil, saying he is a "double R" and also attacked Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde saying there is always a smile on his face during crises.
"When there were bomb blasts at my rally in Patna, Shinde was attending a Bollywood event in Mumbai," Modi said.
He also hit out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
"Pawar was the chief minister during the Latur earthquake. Gujarat suffered a much worse quake but was rebuilt in just three years unlike Latur," Modi said.
Highlighting farmers in Latur, Modi said during the NDA regime, Rs 1,100 crore-worth tur dal was exported while in Pawar's tenure as Union agriculture minister, tur dal worth Rs 11,000 crore has been imported.
"This government is not bothered about women's safety or farmers' welfare," he said, adding that the UPA regime has failed to improve life of people and should go.
Police have so far arrested Mahendrasingh Chavan, the Latur Youth Congress president, and his aide Sameer Killarikar in connection with Giri's murder last month.
