Rahul's elevation similar to Mughal succession: Modi

Dharampur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday likened the imminent elevation of Rahul Gandhi to the dynastic succession of Mughal rulers, and castigated the Congress for abandoning "public modesty" by deciding to make a person, who is out on bail in a graft case, its president.

The prime minister also targeted the Congress over corruption during its rule and spoke about the clean governance under him in Gujarat and at the Centre.

"The Congress has abandoned all public modesty. The Congress has gone bankrupt, as it is going to make a person who is out on bail in corruption case its president," Modi told a rally here in Valsad district of election-bound Gujarat, apparently referring to the National Herald case.

Political parties, he said, will think 17 times before making those out on bail even a district unit chief.

Modi said with the Congress deciding to make such a leader its president gave a glimpse of what culture the party will follow, and the kind of leadership will emerge there in future.

"Mani Shanker Aiyar, who was a minister in the Congress government said 'did elections happen during Mughal rule? After Jahangir, Shahjahan came, was an election held? After Shahjahan, it was understood that Aurangzeb would be the leader'.

"Does the Congress accept that it is a one family party? We don't want this Aurangzeb Raaj (Aurangzeb's rule)....For us, country comes first, 125 crore people of this country are our high-command," Modi said.

Earlier in the day, Aiyar had rejected comparison between the Congress and the Mughal dynasty, saying that the Mughal emperors chose only their sons as the next ruler without holding an election, whereas the Congress elects its leaders democratically through the ballot.

Referring to the BJP's resounding victory in the civic polls in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Modi said, people in the Congress also think they would not be able to harm the BJP's prospects in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

So, the prime minister said, the thinking in the Congress is that if they could defeat the BJP in Gujarat, people of other states will listen to them.

"Will you allow that to happen? Will you stop the journey of development in Gujarat?" Modi asked the audience that responded with an emphatic 'no'.

Modi also took potshots at Rahul Gandhi over his frequent visit to temples during the poll campaign.

He said the people of Gujarat were not fools and would see through the "deception" (of visiting temples for Hindu votes).

Asserting that he never faced any allegation of corruption in his long public life as a chief minister and prime minister, Modi asked the audience," Have you ever read in any newspaper that I have taken anything? Have you read that Modi's brother or any relative took money? Have you read that son-in-law of our family has taken any money?" he asked, to which the crowd responded in the negative.

On the other hand, he said, the Congress governments were mired in scandals.