Congress takes on Modi, says 'his analogy is against the idea of India'

Congress Party on Friday launched a scathing attack on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over his remark that he had done 'absolutely right thing' in 2002 when the state was hit by riots and that an SIT set up by the Supreme Court had given him a 'thoroughly clean chit', saying this is totally against the analogy of India.

"We are condemning the analogy which he has made. It shows the kind of mindset Mr. Modi has. This is totally against the idea of India; India is not what he thinks. The analogy which he has drawn, the parallels which he has drawn is not the idea of India," said AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Communication Department. Ajay Maken.

Maken said even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji said at the time of Gujarat riots that he failed to implement a 'Raj Dharma'.

"And not only Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji at that time, but even as recent as this month only the Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that the 2002 riots is a result of failed Gujarat model of governance. So, we are not only saying so, but his own party leaders, fellow Chief Ministers are saying so," said Maken.

"But using a riot wherein thousands of people died, using an analogy drawing parallels the way he has done is something which shows his mindset and this is totally against the idea of India which we strongly condemn," he added.

In an exclusive interview to Reuters news agency at his official residence in Gandhinagar, Modi said: "People have a right to be critical. We are a democratic country. Everyone has their own view. I would feel guilty if I did something wrong. Frustration comes when you think 'I got caught. I was stealing and I got caught'. That's not (what happened in) my case."

The Gujarat Chief Minister, who was very recently appointed the BJP's campaign committee chief for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, described himself as a Hindu nationalist because he was a born Hindu.

"I am nationalist. I am patriotic. Nothing is wrong. I'm a born Hindu. Nothing is wrong. So, I am a Hindu nationalist so yes, you can say I am a Hindu nationalist because I am a born Hindu. I am patriotic, so nothing is wrong in it. As far as progressive, development oriented, workaholic, whatever they say, this is what they see. So there's no contradiction between the two," he said.

The Goa Chief Minister had in a recent interview to The Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta for NDTV's Walk the Talk programme said that the 2002 riots in Gujarat were a clear-cut case of administrative failure and bad example of governance.