BJP criticizes Digvijay Singh's comments on Modi, says 'no one takes him seriously'

Criticizing Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh's remarks on Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said his statements are never taken seriously by his own party or even the people of this country.

"The truth is Digvijay Singh keeps on saying something or the other. All I have to say about him is that if his own party and the nation don't take him seriously than why should I take his words seriously. He can say whatever he wants to but the entire country loves Narendra Modi, his honesty and his exceptional administrative skills," he told media here today.

"In all the surveys, Narendra Modi is around 46 to 48% but where is Rahul Gandhi? So we are not worried what the Congress says. People of this country want to get rid of the most corrupt party," he added.

Digvijay Singh, earlier in the day said that the decision to appoint Modi as the party's Prime Ministerial candidate has been taken under pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

"The decision has been taken under pressure from the Sangh, and it makes it clear that BJP is nothing ( has no authority to take a decision) and it is only the Sangh."he told media in Jhalawar, Rajasthan.

He further asked: " Can this person who is responsible for the split of 17-year-old alliance between NDA and JDU make this country one? He is the one because of whom there is internal dispute in BJP. Is he fit to be the Prime Minister? "

BJP on Friday announced Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general elections.

The announcement came after a meeting of the party's parliamentary board here this evening, which unanimously decided to project Modi as the prime ministerial candidate.

"We have projected Narendra Modi as our PM candidate," BJP President Rajnath Singh told media here after the parliamentary board meeting.

Modi thanked his party's central leadership for giving him such an important responsibility, and expressed confidence that the BJP would emerge victorious in the next general elections.

"The BJP has always given me the opportunity to work for progress and development of the party and the nation in various capacities. Today, the BJP's central leadership has given me a very big responsibility," said Modi.

"With the blessings of the national leadership and love of the party workers, I am sure we will win. I whole-heartedly thank the party workers and national leadership," he added.

Modi assured his party workers and supporters that he would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the BJP emerges victorious in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani was not present in the parliamentary board meeting.

Several attempts had earlier been made by senior leaders to convince Advani, who had resigned from all party posts when Modi was appointed the election campaign committee chief in Goa earlier this year.

The BJP President even met the stalwart at the latter's residence here on Wednesday, but failed to convince him.