UPA lacks spine to take on Rehman Malik: Narendra Modi

Prantij: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Congress party of "keeping the country in dark" over Sir Creek issue and slammed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for "lacking the guts" to take on "authoritative" Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik, who had created a flutter on Friday when he equated 26/11 Mumbai attacks to the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya.

"Neither the Prime Minister has responded to my questions on Sir Creek issue nor has the Congress party...you have kept the people of India in dark on this issue," Modi said addressing election rallies at different places on the last day of the campaigning for the final phase of polls slated December 17.

The PMO on Wednesday had dismissed as "untrue" Modi's claim that the Indian government was planning to hand over Sir Creek to Pakistan. He accused the UPA of lacking courage to stand up to Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik's remarks alluding Mumbai attacks to Babri demolition.

"The Union government in Delhi is so weak that Malik comes to India and states authoritatively that the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack is similar to the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition. The Babri Masjid demolition is an internal matter of India. If the Indian government had guts, it should have asked the visiting delegation from Pakistan to say sorry for its comments," Modi said while addressing an election rally at Prantij here.

Dismissing Congress' allegation that he has raked up the Sir Creek issue to drive political mileage during Gujarat elections, Modi said, "If the Congress party feels that I have raked up this issue to get more votes, then postpone this elections. Let the polls be held after six months. Elections will come and go. But, I am more concerned about the security of the country".

He attacked Congress president Sonia Gandhi for doubting his "patriotism". "I am the son of this soil. I was born and grown up here and fought on this soil. I don't require your certificate of nationalism," he said referring to Sonia Gandhi.