Congress compares Modi to Dawood, underworld don

New Delhi: Perhaps it's an attempt to ensure that the country doesn't forget that Narendra Modi was asked to explain his role in the Gujarat riots to a panel over the weekend. In a statement that many find inexplicable, the Congress on Tuesday evening compared Modi to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

"The BJP consistently is saying that Gujarat's Chief Minister has done a  great favour by appearing before the Special Investigating Team (SIT). If you don't follow the law of the land, then have to face the consequence. If tomorrow Dawood is brought before the law, then will people say that he is doing the law a favour? This is a childish thing to say," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

Modi spent over nine hours on Saturday with a panel appointed by the Supreme Court to inquire into the communal riots in his state in 2002. (Read: Gujarat riots panel grills Narendra Modi for 10 hours)

In his blog on Tuesday evening, Modi stressed that he had at that time condemned the riots. He writes, "Friends, after the Gujarat 2002 riots I had made a statement in Vidhan Sabha in March 2002 and I wish to quote one para as sufficient evidence for those who are spreading lies day and night: "Are we not supposed to soul-search ourselves? Whether it is Godhra incident or post-Godhra it does not enhance the prestige of any decent society. These riots are a stigma on humanity and do not help anyone to hold his head high." (Read: Modi blogs to stress he condemns Gujarat riots)

Caught squarely in the middle of the current war between the Congress and Modi is Amitabh Bachchan, who has signed on to be the Brand Ambassador for Gujarat tourism. Since then, he has been shunned at public functions in Maharashtra by the state's Congress Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. (Read and watch: Chavan avoids sharing dais with Amitabh Bachchan)

Modi has praised Bachchan for dealing with the controversy and criticism. (Read: Modi Wants Big B tourism ads by May)

Bachchan has stressed repeatedly that his status as Brand Ambassador is limited to the state's tourism initiative, and does not suggest any sort of political affiliation with Modi. (Read and watch: Bachchan to NDTV on Sea Link and other controversies)

Not content with that, the Congress on Monday dated Bachchan to make clear his stand on Modi and the Gujarat riots. Bachchan has not responded to that, but his close friend Amar Singh said on Tuesday that it's not upto Bachchan to judge Modi and his role; this is what the Supreme Court is looking into, Singh said. (Read and watch: Congress dares Bachchan to take stand on Modi)