Congress attacks Modi over his remarks on party leaders

New Delhi : Congress leaders Sunday attacked Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over his speech at the BJP’s national executive targeting their leaders, saying that he could not attain a national leader’s stature by spending crores of state funds for self-propaganda.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said the kind of language used by Modi does not behove any leader of national stature.

“I think he is yet not capable of attaining the stature of a national leader. By spending crores belonging to Gujarat for self-propaganda, if someone thinks he has become a national leader, he is mistaken,” Shukla said.

He also attacked Modi over his remarks that the country would not have suffered as much if Pranab Mukherjee had been made prime minister, asking why he did not support Mukherjee in the presidential elections.

“Pranab Mukherjee was not likeable then… This is double speak,” Shukla said.

Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal said that Gujarat chief minister had been attacking Gandhi family for years.

“People have given reply twice (in 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections). They will give reply again,” he said.

Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said Manmohan Singh was the prime minister not just of the Congress but entire country.

“His name should be taken with respect. His honour is the country’s honour,” Alvi said.

Modi, in his speech, accused the Nehru-Gandhi family of keeping its interests above that of the country and referred to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a “night watchman”.

He also said that if Mukherjee had been made prime minister, the country would not have suffered as much. “Had Pranab been successful, what would have happened to the family… Hence the tradition of night-watchman.”