Shivraj Chouhan compares Narendra Modi with Sardar Pate
New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has compared fellow BJP leader and his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi with Sardar Vallabhai Patel, known as India's iron man.
"The stature and work of Shri Narender Modi can only be compared with Sardar Patel," Chouhan tweeted.
Chouhan's tweet came a day before Modi's mega rally in Hyderabad to kick off the BJP's election campaign for the 2014 general elections.
Modi was recently anointed as the BJP's national election campaign chief.
Taking strong exception to the comparison made by Chouhan between Modi and Sardar Patel, Alvi said that it is a severe disrespect to the freedom fighter.
"If anyone compares Narendra Modi to Sardar Patel, I believe it is disrespect to Sardar Patel. Sardar Patel spent his life in jails for the independence of this country," Alvi said.
"Sardar Patel was not merely a Minister, he was not merely the Deputy Prime Minister, he was a big freedom fighter. This kind of comparison is extremely unfortunate," he added.
Next: Madhya Pradesh Congress uses cap row to slam Chouhan, Modi
Madhya Pradesh Congress uses cap row to slam Chouhan, Modi
Bhopal: The state opposition Congress on Sunday termed Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's act of sporting a skull cap on the occasion of Eid as a "politically motivated gesture" in an election year.
State Congress spokesman Mukesh Nayak said Chouhan's act was aimed at attracting Muslim votes in Madhya Pradesh, where Assembly election is due by the year-end. Chouhan's gesture on Friday triggered a controversy and he faced criticism both within his party BJP and outside.
This was not the first time Chouhan had sported a skull cap but the controversy arose due to comments made by film actor Raza Murad, who was present at the Bhopal Eidgah where the Chief Minister was seen wearing the cap.
Murad, while appreciating Chouhan, said people should learn from the BJP leader and understand that merely wearing a cap does not defile anyone's religion. While the Bollywood actor did not name anyone, his barbs were apparently directed at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who has in the past refused to don skull cap.
Murad's remarks triggered a war of words between him and BJP leader Uma Bharti, who did not appreciate Chouhan's Eid gesture, terming it as "cheap".
A state BJP spokesman, reacting to Murad's comments, said on Saturday that if wearing a skull cap does not defile one's religion then what objections do members of a community have to the singing of "Vande Mataram".
Congress used the controversy to take potshots at Chouhan and Modi, saying both BJP Chief Ministers had used the skull cap for political reasons. In 2011, the Gujarat CM had refused to put on a skull cap offered by a Muslim cleric during his 'sadbhavana' fast.
While Modi had refused to wear the cap in order to appease his Hindu votebank, Chouhan's move was aimed at attracting Muslim votes, Nayak said on Saturday. Chouhan himself had tried to put a "cap" on the controversy, saying an occasion like Eid should not be politicised.
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