Modi hits out at UPA, says PM is sitting on files as he can't take decisions

New Delhi: Getting into election mode after his elevation in the BJP, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over various issues including the downturn in economy, falling rupee and corruption. "Power production is in a limbo in the country. There are buyers, producers but there is no power production, because PM is sitting on the file as he can't take a decision," Modi said.

"India's PM is an economist, yet the country's economy is in such a bad condition. Very soon, dollar rate will touch the age of the Finance Minister," Modi added.

Hitting out at the Congress-led UPA, Modi said the government hides behind the veil of secularism whenever India faces any problem. "Congress always wears the burka of secularism whenever they face problem. In the name of secularism, Congress government can't play with poor, teenagers and daughters of the country," Modi said.

Modi, while addressing the party workers for the first time after taking over as the Bharatiya Janata Party's 2014 election campaign chief, said the country does not need many acts, but action.

Alleging that the government is arrogant, Modi said, "What kind of arrogance is this? Even after committing so many mistakes, the government is not willing to admit them."

Expressing surprise over CBI giving a clear chit to former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Modi said, "CBI saved former railway minister; constitutional agencies are being used by the government for its own gains."

Modi also ridiculed Congress for not fulfilling the promise of bringing down the inflation in 100 days. "Congress promised that they will bring down inflation in 100 days, but it didn't happen, it should answer. UPA government should be accountable to the promises made to the people of the country."

Alleging that the Congress always plays votebank politics, Modi said, "UPA government believes in vote bank politics. As a result of the vote bank politics country is suffering from the current crisis. Till we don't get rid of the Congress we won't be able to progress."

Terming Congress as shameless, Modi said, "We need account of 'Garibi Hatao' programme started by the Congress 35 years ago. The Congress doesn't trust its own coalition partners."

Modi also highlighted the fisherman killing by Italian marines and said, "Italians came and killed our fishermen, SC had to intervene to get the perpetrators back to India."

Taking a dig at UPA government's ambitious food security programme, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said India's priority is skill development and merely bringing in the Bill would not feed the needy.

The government's decision to rush through an ordinance to put into effect its ambitious food security scheme was also slammed by Modi. "Congress decided to bring in an ordinance because it does not trust its allies anymore. It's all a fight for credit and deprives their partners of the credit" he quipped.

"Instead of distributing the grains to the poor, the government let it rot and later gave the rotting grains to liquor manufacturers despite SC orders," Modi added.