Modi flags off BJP poll campaign; slams UPA

“This government of Delhi cannot provide security to the nation. This government, neck deep in vote bank politics, cannot provide security to our nation... When the Indian jawans were beheaded, the Prime Minister had said that Pakistan will be accounted for it,” Mr. Modi said addressing his much-publicised rally in Hyderabad.

“Now when the Pakistani Army, this week, shot dead our jawans, I want to ask the Prime Minister...he had made the promise that we will not tolerate such things. What is the reason that a country of 125 crore is silently tolerating when Pakistan is going back on its promise one by one?”

The LoC attack in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir early this month in which specialised troops of Pakistan were involved left five jawans dead.

“What is the protocol with those, who behead our soldiers,” he asked.

Mr. Modi, the chief of BJP’s national election campaign, began his speech in Telugu drawing applause from his supporters, who had come to listen to him by paying Rs. 5 as entry fee.

He also alleged that the jawans of Indian Army deployed on the Bangladesh border have been asked not to use weapons even if there was an assault from the other side.

Raising the issue of Chinese incursion, the Gujarat Chief Minister attacked External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid for his remarks on his visit to Beijing.

“Shame, Shame Shame on You. Shame on You, who are running the government of India. You are spraying acid on the wounds of 125 crore Indians...,” he said.

After his visit to Beijing recently, Mr. Khurshid said he would “love to live in Beijing.”

Mr. Modi also slammed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the detention of BJP leader Arun Jaitley at airport and preventing him from visiting riots-hit Kishtwar and said it smacks of an attempt to “hide” the “tale of a crime” that has happened there.

Mr. Modi also accused Congress of creating a wedge between people of Telangana and Seemandhra regions.

Appeals to non-Cong parties to come together, woos TDP

Launching his Southern election campaign, Mr. Modi appealed to all non-Congress parties to come together to dislodge the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and to end “dynastic” rule.

In a bid to woo fresh allies, the Gujarat Chief Minister, who is the BJP’s national election campaign chief, made a specific appeal to Telugu Desam (TDP), which has inherited the legacy of late N.T. Rama Rao, a former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, saying it was its duty to see that the government at the Centre be made Congress-free.

“Congress party is a burden on this nation. Today I want to remember NTR when I come here. NTR did service not only to Andhra but the whole of India when he gave boost to anti-Congress politics. It was NTR’s efforts that paved the way for formation of a non-Congress government at the Centre.

“I appeal to all political parties in Andhra Pradesh here, what can be a supreme tribute to NTR than providing a non-Congress government,” said Mr. Modi while addressing a huge gathering at the Lal Bahadur stadium here organised by BJP.

“All those who claim NTR’s legacy, their first duty is to do everything to bring a non-Congress government. It should be their duty to do everything in this regard. I am confident that Andhra Pradesh’s political parties will not leave any stone unturned to bring a non-Congress government and end this dynastic rule,” he said.

Addressing TDP specifically, a party which has inherited NTR’s legacy, Modi said, “It is their duty also to fulfill NTR’s dreams.”

The TDP, headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, is a former constituent of BJP-led NDA and supported the Vajpayee government from 1998 to 2004. The TDP severed its alliance with BJP after the 2004 election defeat.

“Desh mein Congress mukt bharat ki hawa ban chuki hai (An atmosphere has been created for a Congress-free India),” Mr. Modi said.

Mr. Modi ended his 45-minute speech taking a leaf out of U.S. president Barack Obama by making the crowd chant “yes we can“.