Chandigarh, Oct 29 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, contrasting Rahul Gandhi's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' pitch against the party's past record.
He asked if the 1984 anti-Sikh riots would also find in a place in Gandhi's "shop of love".
Saini asked why the opposition party continue to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi's welfare initiatives when he is working to fulfil the aspirations of 140 crore Indians and empower the poor.
The prime minister has taken LPG cylinders to poor households through the Ujjwala scheme and provided them access to medical treatment. He is working to make India the world's leading nation and strengthen farmers by transferring Rs 6,000 into their accounts. Despite these measures, the Congress continue to make remarks against him, Saini said.
Taking exception to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's recent controversial remark against the prime minister, Saini said it was deeply unfortunate, and the people would not forgive the Congress for it.
At an event in Patna, when an audience member said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi won't go", Kharge had replied, "Modi's baap bi jaayega" (Modi's father will also go).
Saini said Rahul Gandhi's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' slogan concealed a "divisive" approach.
People in Haryana and across the country were aware of the Congress's record, he said, asking whether the 1984 anti-Sikh riots would also find a place in Gandhi's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan'.
Homes, shops and Dalit settlements were burnt during the Congress rule in Haryana; would these too be put on display? he asked. Gandhi should explain if this was what his 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' represented, he said.
Saini said during the Congress rule, terrorists would cross over from Pakistan, kill people and leave without an effective response. In contrast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had acted to curb terrorism.
Referring to the Congress's frequent questioning of the Election Commission and electronic voting machines, Saini said the party should also explain its performance in the recent MLC elections conducted using ballot papers. People now understood its allegations and statements, he said.
The Haryana chief minister alleged riots and breakdown of law and order during the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh, and asked whether Akhilesh Yadav would join Gandhi's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' and answer for those incidents.
Taking a dig at AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, Saini said the former Delhi Chief Minister had claimed that the school system developed during his tenure enabled children to become doctors and engineers. He asked Kejriwal to release a list of students who became doctors and engineers during his tenure.
Tall claims and falsehoods were no substitute for work, and attempts should not be made to mislead the country, he said.
AAP had no issues left to raise, and the people of Punjab were preparing to show it the door, he said.
On early elections in Punjab, Saini said the law and order situation in the state has become worse; the people of Punjab want change and wish to see their state strengthened. He asked AAP to give an account of how it acted on its promise to eradicate the drug menace.
There is widespread anger against AAP, Saini said, adding that the people of Punjab are dissatisfied with the Congress as well.
