New Delhi, September 29
BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for "disrespecting" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and asked the people to choose a "dream team" in 2014 by junking the "dirty team" of the Congress-led UPA.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrives at the Thiruvananthapuram airport on Sunday. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy (2L) is also seen. — PTI

Addressing a mammoth rally in Delhi after his anointment as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Modi also hit out at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for reportedly calling Manmohan Singh a "dehati aurat" (rural woman).

"When his own party leader calls the PM nonsense, how can he (PM) get respect abroad?" Modi asked.

Modi was referring to Rahul Gandhi's outburst on Friday against an ordinance passed by the Cabinet that sought to overturn an apex court ruling disqualifying politicians convicted of crime. Rahul Gandhi had called it "complete nonsense".

Attacking the Congress for undermining the Prime Minister’s authority, he said: “The pride of the Prime Minister has been brought down by his own party. Congress party vice-president has committed the sin of disrespecting the PM.”

Referring to Rahul as ‘shehzada’ (prince), Modi said there is a fight between democracy and dynasty in the country. “People have to decide whether the country will run according to whims of the prince or the Constitution,” he said.

Condemning Modi for the remarks, the Congress retaliated saying that it does not behove of the PM candidate of the Opposition party to use such language against the Prime Minister.

Modi targeted growing corruption and said the Congress-led UPA government was hit by "policy paralysis" and that its "non-governance" was akin to diabetes. "For 10 years the nation has tolerated UPA. In 2014, the country needs a dream team, not a dirty team. This dirty team needs to be uprooted," he thundered, as the crowds roared.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Modi said, had a habit of passing the buck on all issues. “The Delhi Chief Minister has the easiest job. All she does is cut ribbons at inaugurations. She has no responsibilities. If there are potholes on roads, she blames municipal corporations. If there is a law-and-order problem, she blames the Centre.” Modi called himself a son of a poor family —one who used to sell tea at railway stations — and thanked the people for allowing him to reach this position.

Apart from leaders in charge of Delhi Nitin Gadkari and Navjot Sidhu, state leaders -Vijay Malhotra, Aarti Mehra, Vijay Goel and Harsh Vardhan - were present.