Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday claimed that the opposition plan to ride on issues like Soharabuddin Sheikh encounter and Tehelka 'expose' in the upcoming elections has boomeranged and now their leaders are not ready to speak a word on those issues.

"The Congress initially took up the issue of Soharabuddin Sheikh encounter with full force, but soon realised that the issue has boomeranged," Modi said addressing a get together function organised by the BJP at state unit headquarters in Ahemdabad.

"Now, the Congress leaders are shying away from speaking on the two issues, of encounter and the Tehelka expose," Modi further said.

Modi traded charges on the Congress-led UPA government on the issue of Ram Sethu and minority appeasement.
"They filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying that Lord Ram never existed. The government at the Centre does not believe in the existence of Lord Ram," he said.

He also criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] for his statement "minorities have first right on resources of the country", by saying that, "This is pure vote-bank politics.

All the poor people should have equal rights on resources of country irrespective of their religion."

Referring to the alliance of BJP rebels and NCP with the Congress, Modi said, "The opposition here is so weak that it is bagging for alliance and wants to fight elections on the basis of power of others."

Modi alleged that the opposition in the state has failed to set an agenda for the elections so far.

"I am ready to fight the elections on the agenda set by them," he added. Speaking on the issue of Nandigram, he said the country has to decide weather it wants to go on the road of Nandigram or the "road of progress" shown by Gujarat.

Modi alleged that media is on the side of Congress in the elections. But, inspite of that the Opposition party is not able to make an impact in the minds of people of the state, the Chief Minister said.

ON rebellion in the party, Modi said some people are not happy with him as he "does not take bribe and does not allow others to take it too".

The "real reason" for rebellion is this, he added.