Modi's comparison with Sardar Patel 'extremely unfortunate': Rashid Alvi

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Sunday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for comparing Narendra Modi to Sardar Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, and said it is impossible for the Gujarat Chief Minister to become the the country's Prime Minister.

"As far as the question of Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister goes, I have maintained that only the BJP can see these far fledged dreams which can be never realized or have any possibilities of being realized. No one else but the BJP can do this," Alvi said.

Saying that the BJP had no chance to win the 2014 Lok Sabha elections because of its anti-secular credentials, Alvi said that the main opposition party had not come to a consensus on their Prime Ministerial candidate because its members are greedy to come to power.

"They are greedy for power and that is why they have an internal battle as to who will be their Prime Minister. I have said it multiple times before, there is no scope for anybody from the BJP becoming the Prime Minister of this country. This is a secular country," Alvi said.

Rubbishing the comparison made by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan between Modi and Sardar Patel, Alvi said that it is a severe disrespect to the freedom fighter.

"If anyone compares Narendra Modi to Sardar Patel, I believe it is disrespect to Sardar Patel. Sardar Patel spent his life in jails for the independence of this country. Sardar Patel was not merely a Minister, he was not merely the Deputy Prime Minister, he was a big freedom fighter. This kind of comparison is extremely unfortunate," Alvi added.

On Saturday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan used the micro-blogging website, Twitter, to compare the Gujarat Chief Minister to freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel.

"The stature and work of Shri Narendra Modi can only be compared with Sardar Patel," Chouhan tweeted on Saturday.

Narendra Modi, who had been announced as BJP's Campaign Committee Chairmen in June this year, will kick-start his party's election campaign in Hyderabad today.

According to reports, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to canvas for Modi's first public meeting in the city and online registrations, Twitter publicity and voluntary contribution of Rs. 5 for the Uttarakhand victims are being organized.

Modi is expected to address a youth conclave at around 4:30 p.m. at the L.B. Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday. He will also meet several senior BJP leaders and party functionaries in Hyderabad.