Modi, Akhilesh sharpen attacks on each other

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tore into BJP'S political opponents in Uttar Pradesh and claimed they were struggling to salvage their dignity as the wind was blowing in the saffron party's favour after the first three phases of Assembly election in the state.

"After three phases of polling, these three parties (SP, Congress and BSP) are desperately hoping they will get enough seats to save face," PM Modi mocked.

Addressing a rally at Phool-pur in the vicinity of state capital Allahabad, the Prime Minister said that people had voted heavily in the BJP'S favour during all three phases of the assembly polls, which was a rude awakening for the SP-CON-gress alliance and Mayawati's BSP.

"On one hand, these parties are busy fighting the election to save their reputation. On the other hand, the BJP is working to change the fate of the people of UP," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also attacked Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav over the his "Kaam Bolta Hai" (work speaks for itself) motto. "Akhilesh ji, you keep saying that 'Kaam Bolta Hai'. But then, why does the Allahabad high court keep blocking your plans and orders? Why does the court rap you every other day? I think this in an indication of not your work, but your misdeeds," PM Modi jibed.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday contested Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim about discrimination in power supply during Ramzan and Diwali in Uttar Pradesh and asked him to swear by "mother Ganga" if there was any disparity.

Giving an interesting twist to the no-holds-barred election cam- paign, Akhilesh also appeared to target Modi as he "appealed" to megastar Amitabh Bachchan not to "campaign for the donkeys of Gujarat".

Addressing a rally in Unchahar Assembly constituency in Rae Bareli district, the Chief Minister claimed that he has ensured 24-hour power supply for Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Modi, after a request from veteran BJP MLA Shyamdeo Roy Chowdhury.

"If he (Modi) claims himself to be the son of 'Ganga Maiyya' (mother Ganga), then he should answer whether SP is giving 24-hour power supply to Varanasi or not," he said.

"Khao Ganga Maiyya ki kasam ki Samajwadi sarkar ne Varanasi mein 24 ghanta bijli nahi di (swear by mother Ganga that the SP government did not provide 24-hour electricity in Varanasi," Akhilesh said, in a message for Modi.