Chidambaram did encounter of Indian economy: Modi retorts

AHMEDABAD: The war of words between Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today escalated as the Gujarat Chief Minister today accused the former of "doing encounter of the Indian economy".

He also accused Chidambaram of running away from elections this time.

"Your encounter minister has lost the courage to fight the elections.... he who did the encounter of (Indian) economy," Modi said, without naming Chidambaram.

"The minister who has resorted to recount to win the elections....now he knows that even recounting will not help so he decided to run away from the battle-field," Modi said addressing some 100 rallies through a 3D holographic projection broadcast from here.

Chidambaram had called Modi "an encounter minister" while responding to the BJP leader's jibe on recount of votes in Shivganga Lok Sabha constituency of Tamil Nadu when Chidambaram had won in 2009.

On Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's terming the Gujarat development model as "toffee model" and "a hot-air balloon", Modi said "shehzada (the prince) is searching for toffee and balloons, let him stay with his toffee and his balloons.

"The country cannot waste its time on toffee remarks, this country needs mature politics. This country needs the highest trophies from the world. We will move with our dreams of the biggest trophy for the country," Modi said.

"Now shehzada is out of the race, when nobody is ready to take his care.... the mother has to come in," he said, referring to Sonia Gandhi.

Modi also attacked Sonia over her statement that Congress had respect for the constitutional and democratic organisations, reminding her of the emergency.