Modi to Congress: Hang me, if you can

In his repeated blatant attack on Congress within a week, which is palpable scathing on Centre-State relationship, the chief of the Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party's (BJP) unit of Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi openly defied the Centre to charge him under sedition.

Narendra Modi, known for his political rhetoric, while attending a function on Sunday said: “It is my open challenge to the Congress government at the Centre. If speaking truth in the interest of Gujarat means sedition then let them go ahead and hang me, if they can.”

He, however, said a feeble government which could not dare to hang Afzal Guru, convicted for attacking Parliament in 2001, how can hang a nationalist.

Modi's stern reaction came in the context of Congress' demand of slapping sedition charges against him for his “no tax” remark last week during the party's brainstorming session.

Modi's comment of 'Gujarat does not need any financial aid from the Centre' taken severely by the Congress party dubbing the Chief Minister as anti-national and the Congressmen clamoured to charge Modi with sedition.

“The State of Gujarat could run without any financial aid from the Centre,” he said at a function in Vadodara last week, “Gujarat gives Rs 40,000 crore as taxes to the Centre and receives mere 2.5 percent of it in return.

Under these circumstances, it is better for the Centre to stop collecting taxes from Gujarat and stop aid to the state, he said.

Modi's remark perceived by the Congress as nothing less than an assault on the 'idea of India' and an onslaught on the fabric of 'unity and integrity' of the country.

"I dare the Congress government to press charges of sedition against me. I don't need a certificate from the Congress party to prove my love for the country," Modi replied.

Whether Narendra Modi has kick started campaigning for the next Lok Sabha election. His recent political rhetoric, which brought vote for him in the last assembly election, at least signals the same.