Sonia defamed Gujarat by questioning development: Modi

Continuing his tirade against the Congress president, Narendra Modi on Friday said Sonia Gandhi "defamed" Gujarat with her statement that there had been no development in the state after he became the chief minister.

"Soniaji, in her recent visit to Rajkot, said there has been no development in Gujarat after Modi came to power. This is an outright attempt to defame Gujarat," Modi said addressing 'Swami Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra' (his campaign tour for Assembly polls) in Bhachau town of Kutch district.

"I ask Madam Soniaji to tell your advisers in Gujarat to at least speak the truth and give you correct information," Modi said.

"The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, run by Gandhi family, and of which Soniaji is the president, has said that Gujarat has progressed well among the states," he said.

"You are president of the foundation, you should have known that. Why are you spreading lies and trying to mislead the people of the state? If you oppose us due to political reasons that is fine, but we hope you won't spread lies. I don't know what the state Congress leaders told the Madam," he said.

Gandhi, in her rally at Rajkot, had tore into Modi government, listing its failures on issues ranging from Narmada water, farmer suicides to atrocities on dalits.

Referring to Congress's election slogan that it would change 'disha' (direction) and `dasha' (situation) of Gujarat, Modi said that the direction of the Congress "is coal scam, 2G spectrum scam, CWG scam, corruption, dynasty politics".

"It has ruled the country by creating dissension between communities, between castes and between regions," he added.

Congress was slandering Gujarat for long, and would be wiped out in the elections, he said.

Like the Queen Laxmibai of Jhansi who famously said 'Meri Jhansi nahi doongi' (I won't give up my Jhansi), the people of Gujarat should say 'Humara Gujarat Nahi Denge' (we will not give up our Gujarat), he said.