Modi mocks Congress for not naming Rahul as PM candidate

mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Jan 19:  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi attends the party’s two-day long National Council meeting beginning Saturday to chalk out election strategy, in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014.

Hitting back at Narendra Modi over his remarks on Rahul Gandhi, Congress today said BJP can "only" name Prime Ministerial candidates and not give "strong" PMs, even as JD(U) joined the tea-seller spat saying a person selling "poisonous" tea should not hold the top post.

Congress general secretary Ajay Maken asked why the party should follow BJP’s "failed" model of "PM-in-waiting".

 

"BJP only gives prime ministerial candidates while the Congress gives strong PMs to the country. During the last two general elections, there were only candidates who came forward from BJP, the PM came from Congress and UPA only," Union minister Manish Tewari told reporters in Ludhiana.

His remarks came after BJP led by Modi took a dig at Congress for not naming Rahul as the Prime Ministerial candidate, saying Sonia Gandhi wanted to save her son from being "sacrificed" politically in view of "imminent" defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.

Modi, who was once a tea vendor, also hit at out at the ’chai wala’ barbs at him by Congress leaders accusing them of "feudal mindset".

Mr Modi alleged that there were several reasons for that decision taken by Congress president and Rahul’s mother Sonia Gandhi. Primarily, that her party "is staring at certain defeat." 
 
"I see a very human, sensitive reason for the decision. Would any mother sacrifice her son? Sonia Gandhi thought ’no, save my son’," Mr Modi said, dismissing the Congress’ argument that it has a tradition of not picking its candidate for PM before elections.

Mr Modi, who often contrasts his simple origins with that of Rahul Gandhi, whose family has dominated Indian politics for decades, grabbed the opportunity presented to him by the Congress’ Mani Shankar Aiyar to do so again.