Narendra Modi often contrasts his simple origins with that of Rahul Gandhi, whose family has dominated Indian politics for decades.
, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, today mocked the Congress for not naming Rahul Gandhi its presumptive PM for the 2014 general elections despite much clamour, at its mega conclave two days ago.
Mr Modi alleged that there were several reasons for that decision taken by Congress president and Rahul's mother Sonia Gandhi. Primarily, that her party "is staring at certain defeat."
"I see a very human, sensitive reason for the decision. Would any mother sacrifice her son? Sonia Gandhi thought 'no, save my son'," Mr Modi said, dismissing the Congress' argument that it has a tradition of not picking its candidate for PM before elections. (
Highlights of Mr Modi's speech)
Mr Modi, who often contrasts his simple origins with that of Rahul Gandhi, whose family has dominated Indian politics for decades, grabbed the opportunity presented to him by the Congress' Mani Shankar Aiyar to do so again.
He accused the Congress of being "high-class elitists with a feudal mindset," and said the Gandhis felt "insulted at having to fight against a tea vendor...someone from a backward caste whose mother used to wash dishes."
Delighted party workers who he was addressing shouted another round of Modi slogans.
Mr Aiyar had said at a Congress conclave on Friday, "There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here, we can make some room for him." His party has disowned the comment. (
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Mr Modi detailed the BJP's vision for the country, contrasting it with that of the Congress; with much play on words, he ripped into the speech Rahul Gandhi had made at the Congress' meet on Friday.
"We don't just need bills, we need political will and a
dil (heart)," said Mr Modi about Rahul Gandhi's priority to pass six anti-corruption bills in Parliament. The country, he said, needed "not acts, but action."