Manish Tewari takes on Modi, says 'it's ridiculous to compare oneself with PM through Independence Day speeches'

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Friday has criticised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his unconventional attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Independence Day, and described it as a crass and cheap attempt which should not be given importance.

"There is no question of competition. The Prime Minister addresses the nation from the Red Fort as a symbol of faith and aspiration of 120 crore people. If one thinks that he can compare himself from the Prime Minister's address made from the Red Fort, then nothing can be more ridiculous than this," Tewari told media here.

"This is a very crass and cheap attempt on which we would not like to make any comment," he added.

Verbally attacking the Prime Minister and his government's policies, Modi yesterday said the former's Independence Day speech did not have a tough message for Pakistan.

Modi, who is the BJP's election campaign committee chief, challenged the Prime Minister to a public debate on governance, saying the nation is 'restless for change'.

"When we talk about independence, the map of Gujarat naturally flashes before our eyes. Both the non-violent and revolutionary paths to independence went through Gujarat," said Modi in his Independence Day speech at Bhuj.

"Both Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel were from Gujarat and so were many illustrious revolutionaries who hailed from Kutch," he added.

Holding the Prime Minister responsible for corruption and rising inflation, Modi said: "Even after 60 years, we are still slaves."

Modi also criticized the Prime Minister for taking a soft stand against Pakistan.

"I expected PM would make a strong statement from Red Fort. Prime Minister should have talked tough from the ramparts of Red Fort," he said.

"The Red Fort should have been used to boost the morale of our armed forces especially after the recent incidents at the border," he added, while apparently referring to the killing of five Indian soldiers by Pakistani Specialist Forces on August 6 along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch District.