Congress using secularism to digress from real problems: Modi

Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), April 20 (IANS) BJP leader Narendra Modi Sunday accused the Congress of using secularism as a tool to divert attention from addressing the country's real problems.

"I talk about ending graft, benefitting the farmers, protecting our mothers and sisters, giving jobs to the youth but all they talk about is secularism... why are they not addressing the real problems of the country?" Modi asked at a public rally here.

"I am thinking of ways to solve these problems but the Congress is busy finding out a solution for Modi," he added.

Continuing his attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son, party vice president Rahul Gandhi, Modi said the duo promised to provide jobs to the unemployed youth of Chhattisgarh in the last election but failed to deliver.

"The Congress has broken their promise and cheated you and still they have the audacity to come here this time and ask for votes. I am surprised at their shamelessness," Modi said.

The BJP's prime ministerial candidate said it was former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was behind the creation of Chhattisgarh.

"The previous government (Congress) had ruined the state of Madhya Pradesh. Now, Shivraj Singh Chouhan (chief minister of Madhya Pradesh) and Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh's chief minister) have ensured speedy development in both states in record time," he said.