Mother India not a beehive: Narendra Modi

What was planned as a celebration of the BJP’s foundation day turned into the Narendra Modi show on Saturday as the Gujarat CM continued his high-voltage march towards 2014. HT reports. Modi event's venue at Ficci changed to accomodate audience | Next for Rahul: Addressing One CII-type forum every month

What was planned as a celebration of the BJP’s foundation day turned into the Narendra Modi show on Saturday as the Gujarat chief minister continued his high-voltage march towards 2014.

Gujarat-chief-minister-Narendra-Modi-waves-to-supporters-during-the-BJP-s-foundation-day-celebration-in-Ahmadabad-UNI

Making his first public address after his induction into the party’s powerful parliamentary board on Monday, he hit out at the Congress-led UPA government and at Rahul Gandhi — seen by many as his rival in the race to be prime minister after the general elections.

“It pained me when I heard one Congress leader’s speech calling India a beehive. For them, this nation could be a beehive but for us, this nation is our mother. This India is my mother,” Modi said, an obvious reference to the Congress vice-president’s speech to business leaders two days ago.

Accusing the Centre of “harassing BJP governments by using constitutional authorities like the CBI and governor”, he said the people would give a “befitting reply to the Congress”.

“We will not bow down to the threats of the CBI or the governor,” he told the 50,000 BJP workers gathered at the Sardar Patel stadium.

Gujarat state chief minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh wave to party supporters during the Foundation Day celebration of the party in Ahmadabad. AP