Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Saturday joined issue with Rahul Gandhi for equating India with a beehive, heightening the prospect of 2014 Lok Sabha elections turning into a gladiatorial duel between the two political arch-rivals.
"It is unfortunate that a senior Congress leader equated India with beehive. For us India is our motherland. For us, India comes first," Modi said reacting to Gandhi's recent speech at a CII function without naming the Congress leader.
The Gujarat CM, leading claimant for being BJP's prime ministerial nominee, who was addressing a huge meeting of BJP workers did not mention Rahul, but rubbed it in by suggesting that the Congress scion was not familiar with Indian ethos. "If you cannot understand the language and culture of the country, avoid saying anything that insults the motherland by equating it with a beehive," he said.
Speaking at an industry event, Rahul Gandhi had on Thursday likened India to a beehive, saying that this reflects country's energy and complexity. He also appeared to have taken a veiled swipe at Modi that the CM's allegedly exclusivist agenda and individualistic style was not suited for India's needs.
A riposte from Modi was expected and it came at a party function, though in an interview to Times Now Modi parried a question based on Rahul's beehive metaphor. In the interview, he also avoided a direct reply on whether the battle for 2014 is shaping up as a Modi versus Rahul match up
'Cong will get befitting reply in 2014'
Addressing the party workers, Modi also took on Congress for terming him a Yamraj (God of death), saying that every such insult heaped on the BJP will only work to party's advantage. The more dirt you throw on us, the more the lotus (BJP's poll symbol) will bloom."
"In 2007, they called me Maut ke Saudagar and you people gave a befitting answer to them in the elections. Now, they are calling me Yamraj. I am sure you will give them a similar answer in 2014," Modi told the gathering."
The party event, while meant to commemorate the BJP's foundation day, turned into a celebration of the popular BJP leader's rising profile although in an interview with Times Now earlier the CM had avoided a direct reply on whether the battle for 2014 was shaping up as a Modi versus Rahul match up.
All roads led to the venue, Sardar Patel Stadium at Navrangpura, as BJP workers thronged the arena to watch the party's pinch-hitter who just made a comeback to party's central parliamentary board, warm up for the national role he seems set to play. The CM did not disappoint. He spoke in Hindi and did not limit himself to issues of Gujarat, beginning his speech with by recalling sacrifices of the BJP workers of Bengal and Kerala.
Party chief Rajnath Singh called Modi the most popular leader, while members of his team, V Satish and Smriti Irani, joined the leaders of Gujarat unit to hail the CM.
The event carried the signature of Modi's techno-organizational managerial skills, with the venue turning into a pot of gold as everybody present at the stadium lit a lamp to take a pledge before the Sun god.
The CM, however, took pains to de-emphasize his status as the BJP's pre-eminent leader, shoving aside the criticism that he had become larger than the party. "No son can ever be taller than his mother," he said, adding, "If the BJP is so strong in Gujarat, it is not because of any individual. It is because of sacrifices made by thousands of party workers."
With his close aide and BJP general secretary Amit Shah by his side — Shah is an accused in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh fake encounter case being probed by the CBI — Modi accused the Centre of misusing central agencies and constitutional authorities including governors to attack BJP in several states.
He further called upon the people of Gujarat and BJP workers to launch agitation among the villages to pressurize the centre government to permit raising the height of the Narmada dam
. Calling Modi as country's most popular leader, Singh said, "Gandhiji's dreams still remain unfulfilled because those who run the country have merely used his name without following his ideals." He said Modi has adopted the development model of Mahatma Gandhi and focused on inclusive development.
"Even Congress controlled agencies like Rajiv Gandhi foundation has lauded the Gujarat model. Earlier, US Congress called Gujarat CM as the non corrupt," said Singh targeting the 'dynastic' Congress on a host of issues ranging from corruption to inflation and playing vote-bank politics
