UPAfree to probe how much BJP spent on ads: Modi

BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi taunted the UPA government for alleging his party had spent massive amounts on its electoral campaign, saying the government had failed on all fronts and could at least probe this charge in its remaining days in power.

Appearing on India TV's show Aap Ki Adalat, his first interview after being named the party's prime ministerial candidate, Modi also said he had never dreamt of reaching this high in his political career.

Asked to answer charges by Congress minister Anand Sharma that the Bharatiya Janata Party had spent Rs.10,000 crore on its ad blitz, Modi, in an affable mood, said the United Progressive Alliance government has "failed on all fronts.. Now in its remaining days it can at least find out the truth.. I invite Anand Sharma to do so in the remaining days of the government tenure.."

He also took on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for comparing the BJP ad blitz to a balloon that would burst, saying that the Congress had said that BJP could not win the elections in Gujarat post the 2002 riots. "In 2002, the Congress said the same thing, but in all the Gujarat polls we won and their balloon burst."

Modi urged the youth not to dream to become something but to dream of doing something for the country.

Addressing an audience cheering his every word, Modi said: "I have never dreamed of becoming anything in life but always wanted to do something for the country. Today's youth should also aim to do something for the country."