Narendra Modi campaigning in Ambedkar Nagar
today hit back at Sonia Gandhi, who has attacked him for using Kargil martyr Vikram Batra's phrase "Yeh Dil Maange More" during his campaign last week.
"(Sonia) said '
Modi maang raha hai'. Maybe she is ashamed of asking, I am not. People are like God. If I don't go to people, who will I go to? But Sonia ji, we ask, we don't loot. Those who loot don't need to ask, and a poor woman's son can only ask," Mr Modi said in a direct response to the Congress president. (
Also Read: Narendra Modi Has Declared Himself Prime Minister: Sonia Gandhi)
On Sunday, while campaigning in Himachal Pradesh, Mrs Gandhi had said, "A few days ago, the BJP's Gujarat Chief Minister told you here what his heart asking for. His heart is only asking for the chair. It's an insult to our brave martyrs".
In Palampur, the Himachal Pradesh hometown of Kargil martyr Vikram Batra, Mr Modi had first used the catch-phrase the officer had immortalized in an interview to NDTV just before he died in Kargil. (
Also Read: Now Sonia's Remembering God? Signals Extent of Crisis, Says Modi)
"Vikram Batra died for the country - he had said - yeh dil maange more. I say it too. I want all four seats in Himachal. I want 300 lotuses across India." Mr Modi had said on Wednesday.
Captain Batra's family made it clear that they were upset. His mother, Kamal Kanta Batra, the Aam Aadmi Party candidate from neighboring Hamirpur, accused Mr Modi of being a "pseudo patriot" and has challenged him to a debate on the welfare of soldiers. (Also read:
Modi uses Kargil martyr's phrase, upsets his family)
"Modi was in charge of the BJP in Himachal during the Kargil war. He was in Palampur when Vikram died. Why didn't he visit us or any martyrs family then. Why remember us after 15 years?" she said. (Read:
Open letter to Narendra Modi from Vikram Batra's mother)