As poll deadline looms, Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi take pot-shots at each other over Gandhiji

Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Narendra Modi sparred today after the Congress leader invoked M K Gandhi, as the Gujarat war hotted up on the last day of campaigning for the first phase of the assembly elections.

The AICC General Secretary's attendance in 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," the AICC General Secretary 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 two-phase election is being held on December 13 and 17. Counting of votes will be taken up on December 20.

The Chief Minister also referred to Rahul's remarks on Mahatma Gandhi at his rallies.

"Rahul Baba said he was walking on Gandhiji's path but if he is actually walking on it, then one wish of Mahatma Gandhi would not have been left incomplete, which was to disband the Congress after Independence," he said.

On another issue, the Congress leader claimed that even opposition's voice is curbed in Gujarat as the Assembly sits for just 25 days in a year and very often opposition leaders are "thrown" out of the House.

"For how many days does the Assembly session take place in Gujarat? For 25 days in a year. You say your vote is your voice and Assembly session takes place for 25 days in a year.

... contd.

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