Shimla, 23 April (HS): Senior Congress leader and former union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has hit back in Shimla on BJP's continuous criticism regarding the Congress manifesto.

Chidambaram, who reached Shimla on Tuesday on a personal visit, said in an informal conversation with journalists that there is social and economic inequality in the country. People from SC and ST categories are most affected. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, all sections of the people are poor. In the manifesto we have said that we will do justice to all sections of people. The Congress Party has mentioned the people of remote areas of the country. BJP is facing problems due to Congress manifesto.

He said that the title of BJP's manifesto is Modi's Guarantee, the manifesto cannot be Modi's guarantee. Chidambaram said that the Prime Minister should first read the Congress manifesto and then say something. On the question of electoral bonds, he said that BJP has taken electoral bonds worth Rs 8500 crore. No other party can match BJP in terms of publicity and hoardings. Congress party's accounts have been frozen. Only the people of the country will support the Congress party in the elections.

In response to the question of BJP's slogan crossing 400, Chidambaram said that it is fighting on 25 seats in Tamil Nadu and 20 seats in Kerala. BJP will lose on all these seats. He said that BJP is not fighting on 400 seats, they are planning to fight in some other country.

Hindusthan Samachar/ Indrani/Manoj