Congress trying to ignore Modi's threat: Shahid Siddiqui

Former Samajwadi party (SP) leader Shahid Siddiqui on Friday called the Congress Party an ostrich, and accused it of trying to ignore the threat of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"Congress has been behaving like an ostrich, ignoring the threat of Narendra Modi. During the Gujarat election also, they were trying to ignore Modi, but they cannot ignore the threat of Modi anymore," said Siddique, while commenting on Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh's remark that Modi is 'India's first authentic fascist'.

" They will have to face the reality, but if they want to fight Narendra Modi they will have to have alternative policies. At the moment, there is no difference between the economic ideology of Narendra Modi and Sonia Gandhi," he added.

Siddiqui further said there is no ideological difference on foreign policy between Narendra Modi and the Congress.

"There is no ideological difference between the two on social issues. There is no difference between the two, the only difference is one the questions of how is treat Muslims in this country," he added.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi party (SP) leader Kamaal Farooqi said that Ramesh was a respected leader in the ranks of the party and his comments should be taken seriously.

"As far as Jairam Ramesh is concerned, he is one of the towering personalities, which is known for the frank opinion and he has been saying it for quite a long time. Whatever he says, ultimately, there would be first a kind of turmoil in the party but later on they come along with Jairam," said Farooqi.

"So, I personally feel that whatever he is saying it's a fact and Congress has to face this bitter truth," he added.

Ramesh had earlier on Thursday dubbed Modi as India's 'first authentic fascist', and conceded that the BJP leader poses a 'challenge' for the Congress Party in the coming elections.

"He will certainly impose a challenge on us. He represents not just a managerial challenge. But he also represents an ideological challenge," he said.

Ramesh, however, dismissed suggestions that the Congress Party was afraid of Modi.

"Why should we be afraid of Modi? Yes he won three elections in Gujarat. No doubt, he was a formidable campaigner," he said.

Modi, who is touted by many to be the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, was earlier this month appointed as the chairman of campaign committee for the 2014 polls.