Stop 'belittling' great personalities, says Modi

In a veiled attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said the opposition party can abuse him, but should stop "belittling" icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel and Babasaheb Ambedkar.

The prime minister also said cleanliness was an important aspect of Mahatma Gandhi's life and asserted that sanitation coverage increased manifold under his four-year-old government.

Without mentioning the Congress, Modi said the opposition party is tied to a single family.

"People see caste, state, election... Stop belittling great personalities. Modi is living, abuse him 24 hours, and if that is not enough, do it for 26 hours. Who is saying no?" he asked.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed that Sardar Patel's mega statue in Gujarat was being built by China, evoking stinging reactions from the BJP and the Gujarat government.

Justifying building of memorials for various noted personalities, Modi said it is a sign of devotion towards those who have fought for the freedom of the country.

He said the country's first deputy prime minister was a global figure who cannot be confined to a caste or a state.

"People say that we remember Sardar Saheb due to the elections. Some say he was a Gujarati while others see him representing a particular caste.

"He was a global figure and they have belittled him. It is our responsibility to make him known to the world as he has worked for the country's unity," Modi said.

The prime minister was addressing a gathering in Rajkot from where he inaugurated through remote control the Mahatma Gandhi Museum at the Alfred High School in the city where the father of the nation had studied.

Modi also dedicated over 600 houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY) to the people and interacted with some women beneficiaries through video conferencing.

In his speech, he appealed to the opposition not to belittle great personalities of the country.

"In reality, this land of Rajkot shaped (Mahatma) Gandhiji's life... It is the right of every person of this country and the world to know the early life of this global leader.

"But, I don't know why, and for whose benefit, a great personality like Mahatma Gandhi was reduced to just paying tributes on October 2 (his birth anniversary) and January 30 (his death anniversary)?" Modi asked.

He said the museum is of immense importance not only for the people of Rajkot but also for the entire world.

The museum has been set up at the Alfred High School, which was an important part of the formative years of Mahatma Gandhi. It will help spread awareness about Gandhian culture, values and philosophy, he said.

Attacking the Congress without naming it, Modi said, "We are not tied to one family. We believe that every great person is an inspiration for the coming generation. We are committed people."