Taking strong exception to Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh’s remarks that Narendra Modi poses a challenge to the party, senior Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi said, “if he said so, he should go and join Modi’s party in Gujarat”.

“Modi is not a challenge to the Congress, instead he poses a challenge to the NDA and the BJP” Chaturvedi told television channels here on Friday.

The Congress, too, distanced itself from Ramesh’s remarks saying it was his personal view.
Party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed: “Modi could be a challenge for the BJP and the NDA but not for the Congress. We do not consider him a challenge. It is the considered view of the Congress party.”

Asked whether his comments meant that the AICC has pulled up the minister who has found himself in controversies earlier too, Ahmed said, “there is no question of pulling him up, defending or supporting him.”

While speaking to reporters on Thursday, Ramesh described Modi as India’s “first authentic fascist” and had conceded that the BJP leader poses a “challenge” for the Congress party in the coming elections.

Ramesh was perhaps the first Congress leader to speak about Modi as a challenge after generally being dismissive about him as just a leader in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, the BJP criticised Ramesh for his “Bhasmasura” remarks against Modi and said the Congress should first look at its own past when it gave a “fascist regime” to the country.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said: “The minister and the Congress should first look at its own past before talking about fascism. As prime minister, Indira Gandhi had imposed emergency on the country and put all opposition leaders in jail.”