Modi targets Sonia, Krishna

Targetting Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi canvassing for the BJP in Karnataka asked Congressmen to seek details from her on her family background adding the mantle of the nation cannot be handed over to her.

Continuing to target Congress President Sonia Gandhi on her foreign origin, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked Congressmen to seek details from her on her family background and said the mantle of the nation cannot be handed over to her.

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Kicking off his poll campaign in Karnataka from the home town of Chief Minister SM Krishna in the Cauvery heartland here, Modi said "even when someone lets his house on rent, he enquires about the tenant's background and his financial capabilities. Here is Congress which wants to handover the country without verifying the antecedents of that family".

Reiterating his challenge to Gandhi to sing "Vande Maatram", Modi said "the woman who dreams of becoming the prime minister of the country should accept the challenge".

Defending the exit poll results of the first phase of polling in the country, he said "the exit polls have predicted "exactly" for BJP and "exit" for Congress.

Taking a dig at Krishna, who had been declaring that he would not allow Karnataka to be turned into Gujarat, Modi alleged the state had not transferred Rs 42 crore it collected to extend assistance to Gujarat earthquake victims so far.

"Krishna says, since Modi is ruling in Gujarat he will not pay the amount but is reaping interest on it", he charged.