Modi's track record against graft poor in Gujarat: Sonia

Patna, May 5 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi Monday targeted BJP leader Narendra Modi, saying he is talking of corruption but his track record in tackling graft in Gujarat is very poor.

"Lecturing against corruption is one thing and reality is another. In Gujarat, people found involved in corruption cases are in his cabinet. For the past 10 years, the post of Lokayukta is lying vacant," Sonia said, addressing a Lok Sabha election meeting in Bihar's Muzaffarpur parliamentary constituency.

She said he is hiding corruption under his government in Gujarat. "If he is so clean and serious to fight corruption and lecturing others, why is a graft accused in his council of ministers?" Sonia asked.

She reminded people it was the Congress-led UPA government that brought the Right to Information Act, which has highlighted many a corruption case.

Sonia also attacked Modi for "lecturing" as if he was the "cleanest of them all", and advised him to read history again to know the truth about the contribution of the Congress in transforming India since Independence from a poor state that was dependent on outside support to a progressive and developed nation.

She refuted Modi's allegations that the Congress did nothing for the country.

"In its 67 years of rule since Independence, Congress made many sacrifices to uphold unity and integrity of the country and initiated many pioneering steps to take it on the path of progress. Congress has been working for inclusive development and to progress with unity in diversity. But BJP's aim is to divide society on the lines of caste and religion for votes." Sonia said.

Congress candidate Akhilesh Prasad Singh from Muzaffarpur and party ally and Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Raghuvansh Prasad Singh from neighbouring Vaishali shared the dais with her. Both are former union ministers.