'It's not healthy in politics to play around with a name': Samajwadi Party

Expressing surprise over the ruling Congress Party unnecessarily dragging Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's name in controversies, the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Friday said it is not healthy in politics to play around with a name.

Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal, who was commenting on Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh's remark that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is 'India's first authentic fascist', said it is not healthy in politics to play around with a name

"I have no idea why the Congress Party is scared of Narendra Modi? It is also not understandable why Congress leaders are dragging Modi's name in controversy. It is not healthy in politics to play around with a name. Such statements should not be given out so blatantly and the discussion around Modi should be stopped," he said.

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.