Modi depicted as Lord Krishna in BJP ad, Congress fumes

Kicking up a controversy, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been depicted as Lord Krishna in a BJP advertisement published in a vernacular newspaper on Friday.

The advertisement put up by BJP's Amreli district unit President Bharat Kamdar evoked criticism from the Congress which alleged that Modi is resorting to this practice to win elections. Assembly polls in Gujarat are due towards the end of this year.

It also showed state BJP President R C Faldu as Arjun and party leaders Vijay Rupani, Purshottam Rupala and I K Jadeja as the Pandavas.

The advertisement, given as part of BJP's promotion of "Kishan Yatra", appeared in Saurashtra edition of the daily.

Faldu would lead the yatra that is to be flagged off by Modi here. "Narendra Modi is merely fooling the people. He is only doing this to win the elections. He has portrayed himself as Krishna now, next he will become Ram, Rahim ...He will do something or other," Congress leader Narhari Amin said. But the BJP remained unfazed by the criticism. "Those who want to protest can protest. When an elephant passes by there are always those who bark. Let them bark. We have been doing our work for the people and keep doing so," Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala said.

The yatra's aim is to create awareness among farmers of Saurasthra region about adopting scientific ways to improve quality and quantity of agriculture products, according to Faldu. It would also highlight UPA Government's "anti-farmer" policies, he said.