Manmohan Singh has become 'Singham': Narendra Modi

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is battle ready. And the man at the receiving end is none other than the prime minister Manmohan Singh. Modi’s rhetoric in the countdown to the polls makes it amply clear that he is aiming to attack the UPA-II government at the Centre. Even as he goes on a state-wide meeting spree, he has his eyes set on Delhi.

Addressing a public gathering in Bhavnagar on Saturday, Modi said that prime minister Manmohan Singh had become Singham overnight. Singham is the is a tough cop in a Bollywood movie with  the same name, which is played by Modi’s new-found fan Ajay Devgn.

The speech was delivered as part of the month-long Swami Vivekanand Yuva Yatra. As UPA- II bashing has become his consistent style now, this comment had its origin in Union government allowing 51% FDI in multi-brand retail.

Incidentally, it came out as sarcastic but a back-handed compliment for the PM. Quoting the PM’s reported statement that he would rather ‘go down fighting’ to push the economic reforms, Modi said: “Dr Manmohan Singh has overnight turned Singham.”

“Dr Manmohan Singh, you don’t have that strength in your bones that you can die fighting....instead you should have said `we will fight dying every moment’ (marte-marte ladenge),” Modi said. “In the last eight years of his rule, I have seen the Prime Minister showing spine and holding his head high only twice.

“The first time when he was signing the nuclear treaty with US, and all his allies were opposing it....He said if my government has to go, let it go, I will sign the nuclear treaty at any cost.

“Whenever the issue of corruption comes up, the Prime Minister cites coalition dharma as a constraint,” Modi said. Challenging the PM, Modi asked, ““How many businessmen from Italy are going to take advantage of this? How many businessmen from Italy are going to come to India to run grocery stores,” he asked.

Addressing huge gathering at Jawahar Maidan in Bhavnagar, Modi said Gujarat is the only state which has given positive news, while Delhi always delivers embarrassing news.

He said that on the issue of development and other financial decisions, Congress keeps blaming their alliance partners for non cooperation, but when it comes to allowing foreign investment, PM tells the nation that he is ready to sacrificing power. FDI in retail will bring further unemployment in the country,” he added.

With an eye on the potential damage Mahuva MLA Kanubhai Kalsariya can cause to BJP in coming elections, Modi announced that state government will take over the 200-bed facility of Civil Hospital at Mahuva, which is currently run by the Mahuva Nagarpalika.  In his typical rhetoric, he asked masses
if Gujarat was a land of “RAVAN” to which the public answered “NO”.

He said that the Congressmen were trying to abuse Gujarat’s name in USA saying that “Gujarat is ruled by Ravan”. Modi gave away cricket, chess, volleyball kit to youth and announced that government will open 13,000 Vivekanand Sports Centres in villages.

He also announced the creation of 62 hostels in state for youth and separate hostels for working women.