'Unsettled' Congress doesn't know to tackle BJP challenge: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday criticized the Congress Party following Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh's remark that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is 'India's first authentic fascist', and said the ruling party at the Centre is unsettled and does not how to tackle the opposition challenge.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said the Gujarat Chief Minister is an 'icon of non-corruption and good governance'.

"This is desperation and exasperation of the Congress, which is manifested on daily basis now. Sometimes they abuse Modi, sometimes they call him names, sometimes they say he is fascist, whatever they say the reality is that they are totally unsettled and they don't know how to tackle this challenge posed by the BJP. And let me be very clear, why Modi is popular today is because he is an icon of non-corrupt good governance," 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.