Modi attacks AAP, Congress over corruption as he steps up campaign in Delhi election

NEW DELHI Feb 3 (agencies): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday attacked the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress for their alleged corruption, as he stepped up his party's campaign in the Delhi elections.
"People who roam about with list of Swiss bank account holders in their pockets say they don't know whose money is flowing in their accounts," said Modi referring to allegations that AAP got illegal donations.
"Rajiv Gandhi faced problems because he portrayed himself as Mr. Clean in front of the entire world," said Modi referring to the late Congress leader who lost power in the 1989 elections following Bofors gun deal scandal. He was speaking at an election rally in Rohini.
Modi had held his first rally on Saturday at CBD grounds near Karkardooma court complex followed by another one in Dwarka on February 1. On February 4, Modi will hold another rally in south Delhi for his party. The last day of campaigning is February 5.
Following intelligence inputs of terror threats during Delhi elections, a tight security blanket has been put in place for the rally.
PM Modi had on Saturday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of "backstabbing" the people of Delhi, as he joined the BJP's campaign in the politically charged battle for the Capital that experts say is too close to call.
"Last year, those whom you people voted for, backstabbed you and shattered your dreams," Modi told a gathering in east Delhi ahead of the February 7 election.
Most analysts see the election as a two-way contest between the BJP and AAP, with price rise and women's safety emerging as key electoral issues, with the Congress also seeking to revive its fortunes in the 70-member assembly following a string of defeats last year.
The BJP is hoping to ride the Modi wave to victory when the votes are counted on February 10 with some opinion polls putting the AAP marginally ahead.
But the saffron party is struggling to put up a united face in Delhi despite a slew of electoral wins and the party's decision name former police officer Kiran Bedi as its chief ministerial candidate has left many senior leaders and workers disgruntled, analysts said.
The Capital has been under President's Rule for over a year since the AAP quit after just 49 days in office, most of them dominated by public sit-ins, conflicts with electricity and water agencies as well as a power struggle with the central government.
Meanwhile: India's government on Tuesday defended its efforts to combat climate change after US President Barack Obama urged the country to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the government was already turning words into action on clean energy with efforts that include increasing solar power across the country.
"We have already started walking the talk," he said.
But Javadekar declined to say whether India-the world's third biggest emitter of polluting greenhouse gases-would set itself a target on reducing carbon emissions ahead of a UN climate summit in Paris in December.
"Let me tell you very clearly that 'business as usual' will not be there as far as our actions on climate change are concerned," Javadekar said at a conference on the issue in New Delhi.
India has so far balked at committing itself to major cuts in emissions, arguing that it will not set itself targets that undermine efforts to end poverty.