PM Modi slams Priyanka's appointment, calls it dynastic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said democracy runs in the BJP's veins while in many other cases, family comprises the party.

His comments came hours after Gandhi family scion Priyanka Gandhi Vadra formally entered politics.

Interacting with BJP booth workers from Baramati, Gadchiroli, Hingoli, Nanded and Nandurbar in Maharashtra, Modi said unlike "many cases" where the family is the party, for the BJP the party is family.

In an apparent reference to Priyanka Gandhi, who has been appointed a Congress general secretary and made in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East, Modi said in the BJP, decisions are not taken on the wishes of a person or family.

"In our party, decisions are taken on the basis of what party workers want," he said.

Modi also said the BJP is driven by democratic principles. "Democracy runs in the veins of BJP which is why people of the country feel closer to the party."

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took potshots at the Congress appointing Priyanka Gandhi as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, saying it was a step that took forward dynastic politics. "It was an appointment based on family," which showed that dynastic politics has gone two steps forward," she told reporters here when asked about the matter. Although there was a multitude of party workers, the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi demonstrated that Congress party gave importance to one family, she said.