UPA lacks spine to stand up to Rehman Malik's remarks: Modi

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the PMO and Congress party of "keeping the country in dark" over Sir Creek issue and slammed UPA for "lacking the guts" to take on "authoritative" Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik for his remarks.

The visiting Pakistani minister created a flutter yesterday 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 here for the final phase of polls slated December 17.

The Prime Minister's Office (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 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.

Taking a dig at AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi for invoking Mahatma Gandhi during one of his poll rallies in the state recently, Modi reiterated that "I am fully confident that Rahul will fulfil Mahatma Gandhiji's dream of disbanding the Congress after independence".