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The Congress today distanced itself from Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh's remarks on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "managerial and ideological" challenge to the Congress.
"Modi could be a challenge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), but not for the Congress...We do not consider him a challenge. It is the considered view of the Congress party," party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said.
A miffed Satyavrat Chaturvedi, Congress Member of Parliament, was also quoted as saying, "If Jairam feels Modi is a threat and a challenge, he should resign from the Congress and join the BJP in Gujarat."
Another spokesperson, Bhaktacharan Das dismissed Modi as any threat for the Congress saying, "He has little presence or impact in Uttar Pradesh."
In an interview to the Press Trust of India yesterday, Ramesh had called Modi "Bhasmasur", the "Ash Demon" of Hindu myth. He had also called Modi "India's first authentic fascist".
When questioned, Ramesh had said, "Why should we be afraid of Modi? Yes, he won three elections in Gujarat. No doubt, he was formidable campaigner. He will certainly impose a challenge on us. He represents not just a managerial challenge, but also an ideological one."
Ramesh's comments rankled the party brass as till now, the Congress has refused to even consider that Modi's elevation in the BJP would have any impact on the party and its prospects in the polls. While the Congress will not admit it publicly, but many within the party perceive Modi as a threat who could upset Congress calculations in the run up to 2014.
