Congress rattled by "unprecedented support" for Narendra Modi: BJP

NEW DELHI: In a sharp reaction to Union Minister Kapil Sibal's challenge to its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for a debate, BJP today claimed Congress "is rattled by the unprecedented support" to Modi and making a personalised attack on him.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley charged the second rung leaders of Congress are "inventing" arguments which are "almost trivial".

"The response to all of Modi's contact programmes and large rallies is unprecedented. The kind of attendance at Modi's rallies is among the largest I have seen in the last few decades. Congress is rattled. It does not know how to deal with the possible outcome of the 2014 elections," Jaitley said.

Further, "anti-incumbency is bothering the ruling party and it is disturbed that people are drawing parallels between Modi and Rahul Gandhi", the party said.

"Therefore, the second rank leaders of Congress have jumped him to mount a personalised attack on Modi. The kind of adjectives being used and the kind of arguments being invented are almost trivial," Jaitley said.

The main opposition rued this is taking the seriousness away from the debate.

"There is a very interesting debate on in the country and Modi is leading the debate. Congress leaders are also speaking. Mr Gandhi is also speaking in several rallies. People are discovering what leaders are all about and I think this debate must continue," Jaitley said.

He suggested efforts "to deflect from this debate by interruptions and side comments is not the best thing to do and is not desirable".