Jamnagar/Ahmedabad, Dec 11
Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Narendra Modi sparred today after the Congress leader invoked Mahatma Gandhi, as the Gujarat war hot up on the last day of campaigning for the first phase of the Assembly elections. AICC general secretary’s attendance in the Lok Sabha was also questioned by Modi after he lamented the short duration of Assembly sessions in Gujarat.

“If I have any ‘guru’ in politics, then he is Gandhiji,” Rahul said at a rally in Jamnagar, making his maiden appearance in the Gujarat poll campaign. “Gandhiji had one simple rule that voice of not only every Indian, but for that matter voice of everyone in the world should be heard, whether that person is poor or rich, short or long. That person may be of any region, religion or caste, his voice should be respected,” Rahul said. Modi wasted little time in taking on Rahul after the Congress leader’s comments on Gandhi. “If Rahul baba is walking on Gandhiji’s path, why is Bapu’s 1 wish incomplete - to disband Congress after Independence?” the BJP leader said on microblogging site Twitter. The Chief Minister also referred to Rahul’s remarks on Mahatma Gandhi at his rallies. Rahul Gandhi also claimed that even Opposition’s voice was being curbed in Gujarat as the Assembly sat for just 25 days in a year and very often Opposition leaders were “thrown” out of the House.

“For how many days does the Assembly session take place in Gujarat? You say your vote is your voice and Assembly session takes place for 25 days in a year. Even during those days, Opposition leaders are thrown out because the state government fears they will ask tough questions,” he alleged. Countering the Congress leader, Modi tweeted, “Mr Rahul Gandhi talks of respect for Vidhan Sabha, but his own attendance in the Lok Sabha between May 2011-May 2012 was 24 out of 85 sittings.”

At a rally, Modi said, “Today Rahul Gandhi came and said he had a close relation with Mahatma Gandhi. But he was not even born then.” On Rahul’s narration of Mahatma Gandhi sleeping on the floor in Anand Bhawan in Allahabad, Modi said, “It was Mahatma Gandhi’s greatness and his affection towards Nehru that he slept on the floor, but the real issue is that Motilal Nehru slept on the bed when his son was in jail. You are descendants of Motilal.” — PTI