Bidar: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today (Oct 11, 2004) charged the Congress led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government with "ruining" the country's economy and said it had failed to contain the inflation.

While the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee brought down the inflation level from seven per cent to a three per cent low, under the UPA regime it has shot upto 8.3 per cent, said addressing an election rally for the October 13 Bidar Lok Saba by-election in Bidar.

Modi wanted to know the achievements of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the last 100 days of assuming office and charged that the Prime Minister instead of being in the midst of people "remained behind curtains".

Within 100 days Vajpayee had demonstrated the strength of the nation by conducting a nuclear test, he said.

Modi alleged that the Congress Government was curtaining reservation benefits for SCs and STs and declared his party would fight against it.

He also criticised the Centre for repealing POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act). Recalling the contribution of late Ramachandra Veerappa, whose death caused the Bidar Lok Sabha by-election, he appealed voters to support BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) candidate, Basavaraj Arya in the October 13 election.

Arya is the son of Ramachandra Veerappa. Karnataka unit BJP President Anant kumar, Opposition BJP leader in the State Assembly B S Yediyurappa and others also spoke.