Asianage
13SEP2012
`Gujarat poll is not Rahul vs Modi war'
NEW DELHI, SEPT.12
AGE CORRESPONDENT
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi continues to remain a
“regional satrap” despite his attempts to project himself as a national leader.
This was pointed out by the Congress on Wednesday.
Mr Modi wants to be in the limelight by criticising Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the AICC general
secretary Rahul Gandhi. But this has not helped him to gain popularity. He is
not wanted not only in Bihar because of the opposition of chief minister Nitish
Kumar but his Hindutva hardline and claim of a “vikas purush” in Gujarat has
hardly influenced people outside his state.
Describing Mr Modi a “state leader” while saying Rahul Gandhi
has a national stature, the Congress said in a terse dismissal of suggestions
that the upcoming Gujarat Assembly election could be a “Rahul versus Modi”
affair.
Responding to a question whether Mr Gandhi will campaign for
the party in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, party spokesman Rashid Alvi
said, Mr Gandhi will lead the party wherever he goes whether it is Uttar
Pradesh, Gujarat or Maharashtra.
He also condemned Samajwadi Party leader Mohan Singh’s
reported comments on Mr Gandhi.
“The question does not arise. Rahul Gandhi is a national
leader while Narendra Modi is a state
leader,” Mr Alvi said while replying to queries on whether
the Assembly elections will be a “Modi vs.
Rahul” contest. The party also attacked Mr Modi’s
“Vivekananda Yatra” with Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh saying that
there are no similarities with Swami Vivekananda and Mr Modi and it would have
been better had it been called “Hitler yatra”.
The Congress has been maintaining that election in every
state is fought on the basis of local issues and all senior leaders, who are
given the responsibility to campaign there, will do it.
“Gujarat Congress is ready for the electoral fight in the
state. This imaginary tussle is being projected by Modi just to hide his shortcomings,”
is the opinion of AICC leaders.
