Phase-I campaigning ends, Modi-Rahul duel raises heat

CM returns fire, slams Cong leader's record of attendance in Parliament.

Hours after Rahul Gandhi attacked him and accused his government of not allowing enough Assembly sessions, Chief Minister Narendra Modi hit back saying the Congress general secretary himself had a poor record of attending Parliament.

Countering the Congress leader who accused his the BJP government of muzzling the Opposition's voice, Modi tweeted, "Mr Rahul Gandhi talks of respect for Vidhan Sabha but his own attendance in Lok Sabha between May 2011-May 2012 was 24 out of 85 sittings."

Addressing a rally later, Modi said, "From 2010 to 2011, it was 19 out of 72 sittings!"

"If he had respect for Parliament, he would go for all sittings!" he said.

If Rahul Gandhi had so much love for the Vidhan Sabha, he should know that in Gujarat, the Assembly has debated issues even for days on end but the attitude of the Congress has not been positive, Modi said.

"We discuss issues for many days and Bills are passed. But sadly Congress does not respect Vidhan Sabha also," he said.

"After detailed discussions in the Vidhan Sabha, files are sent to Raj Bhavan for Governor's signature," Modi said, adding that Raj Bhavan has been "converted to Congress Bhavan" by the Congress.

Taking a dig at Rahul who called himself a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, Modi tweeted, "If Rahul Baba is walking on Gandhiji's path, why is Bapu's 1 wish incomplete — to disband Congress after Independence?"

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

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