Narendra Modi charismatic like Mahatma Gandhi, says Mulayam’s daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and compared him to Mahatma Gandhi, leaving the party and her family red-faced.

Aparna Yadav, wife of Mulayam's younger son and half-brother of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, lauded Modi at a function on Thursday for his Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and compared his mass appeal and charisma to Gandhi and socialist icon Ram Manohar Lohia.

On Wednesday, she praised Modi at another function, when she said: "Modi is a role model. He lifted a broom and things began changing in the country."

This comes a few days after Akhilesh took on Modi, saying there is a "need to clean non-secular thoughts first" after Modi "nominated" him as one of those to carry on the Swchh Bharat campaign during his visit to Varanasi.

"Look at the impact Modi's actions have on the common man. People today look up to him for a better tomorrow. Such campaigns will go a long way in improving the image of our country in the world," Aparna said at a function at a school on Thursday.

Asked if her praise for Modi is likely to annoy SP, Aparna said: "There is no harm in appreciating what is good.

Earlier, Aparna had disagreed with Mulayam when he described death sentence as too harsh punishment for rape convicts.

"Netaji is right in saying that death penalty is being debated around the world but, as a woman, my personal view is that if the accused has been found guilty of rape, he should be hanged," she said in April.