Pune : Getting into election mode after his elevation in BJP, Narendra Modi on Sunday 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 in Pune on Sunday evening, Modi hit out at the Prime Minister, saying he was following the path of destruction despite being among the best economists.

“The rupee is falling because those sitting in Delhi are busy looting and eating money. Congress is one stream where even the best among economists starts treading the path of destruction,” he said.

Targeting Congress for giving Rahul Gandhi a prominent role in the party, Modi said, “The dynastic politics of Congress is at the root of the problems faced by the country. The dynasty has crushed people’s expectations. The Congress has taken people for granted.”

Without naming Rahul, Modi took a jibe at him saying, “the Congress’ Shehzade (prince) goes to poor people’s homes, calls media to look at the ruins of what were once palaces and says, look, this is what our ancestors have done.”

Facing criticism from his opponents for defending his government over the Gujarat riots, Modi said, “Look minutely, whenever Congress is faced with a challenge – whether it is corruption, price rise, directives from the Supreme Court, or a minister being jailed, or the rape of girls or an atmosphere of insecurity – they do not answer the people.

“The moment there is a crisis, they wear the ‘burqa’ (veil) of secularism and hide in a bunker,” he said.

BJP has often charged the Congress with engaging in minority appeasement for votebank politics.

Modi said Congress follows this act by insisting that one should not talk about poverty or corruption or price rise at this juncture as “secularism is in danger”. He charged that Congress has done this for decades.

He alleged that though the government had promised to bring down prices within 100 days of coming to power but prices have only gone up.

“But not even once has any Congress leader or the Congress President or the Prime Minister said that we are trying to bring it down, that we have not succeeded but we are working on it,” Modi said.