Modi, who is also the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Maharashtra election in-charge said that the 60 years of Congress reign in the country had given rise to slums. “Without Congress there would not be slums and without slums there would not be any Slumdog Millionaire and no Oscars,” he said at his public rally at the Thane’s Central Ground.

He said the only way Maharashtra can save itself from the clutches of terrorism, poverty, unemployment, load shedding and farmer suicides is to follow in the steps of Gujarat.

“Gujarat has become a benchmark for development in the country. Gujarat and Maharashtra were one state till 1960; if Gujarat can achieve then so can Maharashtra,” said Modi.

Wearing his trademark half-sleeve khadi Kurta, Modi’s speech was in essential a battle cry to vanquish the Congress rule at the Centre, however his target of ridicule was not Sonia Gandhi but Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. Referring to the remarks made by Pawar during a public meeting at Nashik the day before, Modi said : “Leaders like Pawar and others from the Congress know that to win the election they have to mention my name. Pawar says that the path followed by Gujarat is not needed in Maharashtra. Pawar fears Gujarat’s progress and the fact that Gujarat has 24 hour power even in the villages.”

Replying to the Pawar’s remark at Nashik that people of Gujarat want Gandhiji’s and and not Modi’s Gujarat, Modi said: “Pawar has insulted Gandhi, one of greatest leaders, by comparing him with a small person like me.”

He added that Gujarat was fulfilling Gandhiji’s dream of Ram Rajya by empowering the villages. “For Pawar, Gandhiji is only a medium of attaining power,” he quipped.

Speaking about on the Mumbai terrorist attacks, he said, India’s answer to Pakistan was to collect video footage, news clippings and statements and hand it over to US and beg for justice.

“When Delhi was burning with bomb explosion Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil was busy changing his dress and playing with his grandchild as per his own admission,” Modi said.