<p>Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday described Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as India’s “first authentic fascist.” Ramesh also conceded that Modi “poses a challenge” for the Congress party in the coming elections.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“He will certainly impose a challenge on us. He represents not just a managerial challenge. But he also represents an ideological challenge,” Ramesh told reporters here. <br /><br />His acknowledgement is the first by a Congress leader, as his party has often tried portraying Modi as someone influential only in Gujarat. <br /><br />Ramesh, who is Congress’ strategist, however, dismissed suggestions that the Congress “is afraid of the Gujarat leader.<br /><br />“Why should we be afraid of Modi? Yes, he won three elections in Gujarat. No doubt, he was a formidable campaigner,” the minister said when asked whether Modi posed a challenge for the Congress in the 2014 elections. <br /><br />Describing Modi as “Bhasmasur,” a mythological character known for trying to destroy his creator, the minister said the Gujarat chief minister “has consumed” his mentor L K Advani.<br /><br />“Modi is Bhasmasur. He will consume the people who have created him. He has consumed his mentor, Advani. He has consumed Togadia, one of his co-conspirators in 2002, and he is nothing but a Bhasmasur,” the minister said. <br /><br />Ramesh also compared his party leader Rahul Gandhi and Modi—the two possible Prime Ministerial candidates for the 2014 elections. Ramesh said Gandhi was trying to create a structure and a system in the country. Modi “is saying he is the system and the structure.”<br /><br />The minister, however, refused to say that the 2014 elections would be Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi contest but said it “will be a fight between the Congress and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).”<br /><br />Ramesh also launched a scathing attack on the RSS and its chief Mohan Bhagawat.<br />Ramesh said the RSS must register itself with Election Commission and field its candidate in the elections.</p>
<p>Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday described Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as India’s “first authentic fascist.” Ramesh also conceded that Modi “poses a challenge” for the Congress party in the coming elections.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“He will certainly impose a challenge on us. He represents not just a managerial challenge. But he also represents an ideological challenge,” Ramesh told reporters here. <br /><br />His acknowledgement is the first by a Congress leader, as his party has often tried portraying Modi as someone influential only in Gujarat. <br /><br />Ramesh, who is Congress’ strategist, however, dismissed suggestions that the Congress “is afraid of the Gujarat leader.<br /><br />“Why should we be afraid of Modi? Yes, he won three elections in Gujarat. No doubt, he was a formidable campaigner,” the minister said when asked whether Modi posed a challenge for the Congress in the 2014 elections. <br /><br />Describing Modi as “Bhasmasur,” a mythological character known for trying to destroy his creator, the minister said the Gujarat chief minister “has consumed” his mentor L K Advani.<br /><br />“Modi is Bhasmasur. He will consume the people who have created him. He has consumed his mentor, Advani. He has consumed Togadia, one of his co-conspirators in 2002, and he is nothing but a Bhasmasur,” the minister said. <br /><br />Ramesh also compared his party leader Rahul Gandhi and Modi—the two possible Prime Ministerial candidates for the 2014 elections. Ramesh said Gandhi was trying to create a structure and a system in the country. Modi “is saying he is the system and the structure.”<br /><br />The minister, however, refused to say that the 2014 elections would be Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi contest but said it “will be a fight between the Congress and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).”<br /><br />Ramesh also launched a scathing attack on the RSS and its chief Mohan Bhagawat.<br />Ramesh said the RSS must register itself with Election Commission and field its candidate in the elections.</p>
