BJP's PM candidate Modi slams UPA, says country needs strong leadership

Modi said that a competent, patriotic and people-oriented govt is the need of the hour. (PTI)

In his first public rally after being anointed BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked the the Centre for "mishandling" the recent border troubles with Pakistan and China, saying solutions can be found under a "strong leadership".

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Modi also came out in strong defence of the Army and called it a "symbol of secularism" lessons of which, he said, should be learnt by politicians.

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"The problems are not at the borders, but it lies in Delhi (Centre)," Modi said addressing a huge gathering of ex-servicemen at Ahirwal region of Haryana. A solution to these issues can only be found if there is a "strong leadership" at the Centre with a person leading from the front, said Modi, who has attacked the "weak" policies of the UPA government towards its neighbours.

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In his 65-minute-long address, Modi also lashed out at Defence Minister A K Antony's statement in Parliament on the killing of five Indian soldiers when he had said that heavily armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform were responsibile for the killings.

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Following an opposition uproar, Antony had later clarified

that specialist troops of Pakistan Army were involved in the

August six attack on the Indian side of the Line of Control.

"It is unfortunate that the country's defence minister makes a statement in Parliament that someone came in Pakistani soldiers' uniform and killed our soldiers...it must have pained our soldiers," he said.

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Hitting out at the policies of the Centre, he said, "Every day we are facing problems...Pakistan is not giving up its design...China is showing us its might by intrusions... is keen to stop Brahmaputra rivers water and wants to take control over Arunachal Pardesh."