Rahul's 'beehive' remark an insult to the nation: Modi

Stung by Congress' diatribes, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today attacked Rahul Gandhi on his remark that India is a beehive, dubbing it as an insult to the nation which is like a "mother" to its people.
Without naming Gandhi, Modi said at a BJP programme to mark the party's 33rd foundation day that two days back he had heard the speech of a Congress leader on whom the ruling party is pinning its hopes and whose words are considered "policy" by it.
"I was deeply shocked and very pained to hear him describe the country as a beehive. Is this the way the Congress thinks? I want to tell my Congress friends that they may think of this nation as a beehive but for us this nation is a mother," Modi said, amid applause from the crowd.

He "pleaded" with the Congress not to insult the "mother". In an apparent dig at Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Italian origin, Modi said, "If you (Congress) don't understand India, then learn from others but don't insult the country."
Modi, who is being projected by a section of the BJP as a presumptive Prime Ministerial candidate of the party for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, also accused the Centre of misusing the CBI and Governors.
"I warn the rulers in Delhi that if you think your CBI will be able to dishearten us, your thinking is wrong. If you think you can harass BJP ruled states through your governors, you can take it from me in writing that the people will give a befitting reply to the Centre and the Congress," Modi said.

"All government institutions are being used to harass the BJP government, its workers and the party," he added.
Modi has had strained relations with Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal, especially on the appointment of a Lokayukta. Recently, the Lokayukta Bill was passed in Gujarat Assembly giving the CM an upper hand in choosing the anti-graft ombudsman.