The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday asked the Congress to apologise for the party's Gujarat chief Arjun Modhwadia comparing chief minister Narendra Modi to a monkey. "It is disrespect of the whole state of Gujarat and voters of Gujarat will give a befitting reply through the ballot for the use of such filthy language. The Congress should apologise to the nation and to the people of Gujarat," BJP leader Prakash Javadekar told reporters in New Delhi.

"We ask Congress chief Sonia Gandhi if she approves of such language."

He said the Congress was frustrated as Gujarat had become an icon for development, good governance and a non-corrupt regime.

The comments come a day after a poll rally in Gujarat -- elections are due next month -- where Modhwadia compared Modi to a monkey and Manmohan Singh to a lion. Though no names were taken, the meaning was clear.

He talked of a monkey challenging the king of jungle to a duel from the top of a tree. "The king of the jungle will not climb the tree but the monkey will have to come down to the land some time," he was quoted as saying.

BJP has already filed a complaint against him with the Election Commission.