Hiranagar, J&K: Narendra Modi acknowledged Arvind Kejriwal's challenge to him in Varanasi by attacking him today at an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Three
AKs help Pakistan. AK-47 is used by terrorists who shed Indian
blood...then there is AK Antony, the defence minister who says Indian
soldiers were beheaded by persons wearing uniforms of Pakistan army,
when the Army said clearly the soldiers were beheaded by Pakistan
armymen," said Mr Modi, also alleging, "The third is AK 49 - he has just
spawned a party and on his party's official website he has given away
Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan. One of his associates says there should
be a referendum in Kashmir. They are speaking Pakistan's language."
AK
49 was a reference to Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party chief who
was Delhi's chief minister for 49 days and announced yesterday that he
will contest the general elections from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh
against Mr Modi, the BJP's candidate for Prime Minister.
Mr
Kejriwal tweeted, "Did Modi ji call me an agent of Pakistan and AK 49?
Kya PM ke daawedar ko ye bhasha use karna shobha deta hai? (It does not
behove a man who aspires to be PM to talk this way)." (Arvind Kejriwal frowns at Narendra Modi for 'AK49', 'Pakistani agent' jibe)
This
is the first time that Mr Modi has openly targeted Mr Kejriwal, a
seeming re-assessment of the challenge posed by the
taxman-turned-politician. (Narendra Modi accuses Arvind Kejriwal of backstabbing Anna Hazare)
This morning his Gujarat government issued a point by point rebuttal of
allegations that the AAP chief made in Varanasi yesterday, accusing Mr
Modi of exaggerating reports of development in his state.
In
Hiranagar, from where he kicked off a marathon series of 185 election
rallies, Mr Modi also invoked the legacy of former prime minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee today.
"Vajpayeeji had shown us a three-pronged
way of taking Kashmir forward - insaniyat (humanity), jamhooriyat
(democracy), and Kashmiriyat. We must follow that path,'' Mr Modi said.
He heads to Uttar Pradesh and Delhi next for two more rallies scheduled
for today. (Highlights of Narendra Modi's speech)
