Modi hits back at SP leader's jibe

A day after Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal took a jibe at Narendra Modi saying a tea seller can't become the prime minister, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate hit back Thursday accusing the rich of making fun of the poor.

Addressing an election rally at Durg, the Gujarat chief minister said: "Those born in rich houses are mocking the poor... A leader of a Congress ally has said something, the comment does not reflect on Modi but reflects their mentality.

"In a democracy, anyone, even those who are polishing shoes, can become the country's 'bhagya vidhata' if he or she has the potential."

Amid vociferous slogans in favour of Modi by the massive crowd at the Ravishankar stadium here, the BJP leader said he had never hidden anything about his past.

"I never hid this... In childhood I used to sell tea in trains to earn two square meals but I never picked pockets. But someone is making fun of this."

Modi addressed five rallies Thursday in Chhattisgarh where the second and final phase of polling for 72 seats is scheduled Nov 19.

Polling took place in 18 constituencies in the Maoist belt Nov 11. The BJP is in power in Chhattisgarh since December 2003.