PUNE: Getting into election mode after his elevation in BJP, Narendra Modi today launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the downturn in economy , falling rupee and corruption while accusing Congress of hiding behind a veil of secularism to cover its failures.

The Gujarat chief minister lashed out at Congress for failing to deliver on its promise to remove poverty and instead handing "out a piece of paper" containing a law on food security.

Addressing a public rally here this evening, Modi hit out at the Prime Minister, saying he was following the path of destruction despite being among the best economists.

Modi alleged that the present regime was suffering from a "policy paralysis" which was reflecting in its failures on all fronts.

"Power plants in the country are shut down because there is no supply of coal. PM is sitting on files and there is no decision-making. The country is in the dark", he added.

Modi said the government's inaction in bringing back the black money stashed abroad gave rise to the suspicion that it was trying to "protect" some people and their money.

"When the country became independent, the rupee was almost equivalent to the dollar. Now, the rupee is falling and it looks as if it will reach the finance minister's age (in terms of value in relation to US dollar)," he quipped.

The rupee has in recent days crossed an all time low of over Rs 61 to a dollar.

The country, he said, would not be free of problems "unless we create a Congress-free India".

Modi, recently elevated as BJP's election campaign committee chief, said currencies of neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh had not lost value despite the global downturn.

"This is because those sitting in Delhi are so busy eating and looting that they are not bothered about the rupee," he said.

Attacking the government over issuing in a hurry the food security ordinance, touted as a "game-changer" by Congress ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls, Modi said, "people are not getting two square meals a day. So, they have brought a law, irrespective of whether it is possible or not to give food to poor ... to give the people a piece of paper containing a law that they will get food as a matter of right."

Modi said the Congress-led UPA brought the ordinance instead of waiting for a Parliament session as it did not trust its allies.

"Why was the ordinance brought in a hurry, instead of the bill? It is because they don't trust the UPA partners," he said in an apparent reference to UPA allies who were not in favour of the measure to be brought in the form of an ordinance.

Some of the UPA allies, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar had openly expressed their reservations about the government adopting the ordinance route and favoured the measure, the brainchild of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, to be implemented only after a thorough discussion in Parliament.

Modi alleged that the present regime was suffering from a "policy paralysis" which was reflecting in its failures on all fronts.

"Power plants in the country are shut down because there is no supply of coal. PM is sitting on files and there is no decision-making. The country is in the dark", he added.

Modi said the government's inaction in bringing back the black money stashed abroad gave rise to the suspicion that it was trying to "protect" some people and their money.

"When the country became independent, the rupee was almost equivalent to the dollar. Now, the rupee is falling and it looks as if it will reach the PM's age (in terms of value in relation to US dollar)," he quipped while alluding to 80-year-old Singh.

The rupee has in recent days crossed an all time low of over Rs 61 to a dollar.

The country, he said, would not be free of problems "unless we create a Congress-free India".

Modi, recently elevated as BJP's election campaign committee chief, said currencies of neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh had not lost value despite the global downturn.

"This is because those sitting in Delhi are so busy eating and looting that they are not bothered about the rupee," he said.

Attacking the government over issuing in a hurry the food security ordinance, touted as a "game changer" by Congress ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls, Modi said, "people are not getting two square meals a day. So, they have brought a law, irrespective of whether it is possible or not to give food to poor ... to give the people a piece of paper containing a law that they will get food as a matter of right."

Modi said the Congress-led UPA brought the ordinance instead of waiting for a Parliament session as it did not trust its allies.

"Why was the ordinance brought in a hurry, instead of the bill? It is because they don't trust the UPA partners," he said in an apparent reference to UPA allies who were not in favour of the measure to be brought in the form of an ordinance.

Some of the UPA allies, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar had openly expressed their reservations about the government adopting the ordinance route and favoured the measure, the brainchild of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, to be implemented only after a thorough discussion in Parliament.

Raising questions about Congress's commitment to eradicating poverty, Modi said, "The shameless Congress party reneged on its promise of garibi hatao made over 35 years back. They gave this slogan and the poor voted for Congress with the hope that their plight will improve.

"Now, Congressmen concede in private it is not possible for them to eradicate poverty," he said, adding that "Congress cannot suppress expectations of people in the name of secularism."

Modi dared Congress to a debate on achievements during the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led NDA government's rule and UPA dispensation on issues like the falling rupee, inflation and infrastructure development.

"This government is too arrogant to bow its head and admit that it cannot check inflation," Modi said and demanded to know, "Why is not the elected government accountable to people."

Modi also accused the Centre of "misusing" CBI to fix political rivals.

"It was from Pune that Lokmanya Tilak challenged the British empire. He gave the mantra of 'swaraj is my birthright'. Now, 60 years after Independence, the slogan of 'Suraj' (good governance) is my birthright should be given from Pune," he said.

Earlier in the day, Modi slammed the UPA government over scam-tainted CWG games, saying it "destroyed national honour in the eyes of the world".

"Two countries hosted two games ... South Korea hosted Olympics and India the Commonwealth Games. While Korea brought honour to itself through the Olympics, our nation of 120 crore people lost its honour in the eyes of the world," Modi said addressing students and faculty at the Fergusson College here,

"One country uses sport to bring laurel to itself among the global community and another brings itself dishonour," he said.

Significantly, Modi chose to attack Congress on the home turf of disgraced CWG organizing committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, a suspended Congress Lok Sabha member from Pune.

Modi, however, chose not to respond to criticism by his opponents for defending his government over the way it tackled 2002 post-Godhra communal riots and his "puppy" and "I am a Hindu Nationalist" remarks which have invited sharp criticism from his opponents including Congress.

Assailing Congress over the food security ordinance, Modi said "They have brought before the nation a food security bill and are claiming as if a meal has already landed on the plates."

Referring to growing cybercrimes, Modi said his government has set up world's first Forensic Science University in Gujarat.

"Now Congress will say what is new. Mind you, I am not talking about courses in forensic science being taught in colleges and universities. I am talking about a Forensic Science University, which is the first of its kind in the world," he said.

