The Congress on Monday termed the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani as the "mask" for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and asked whether Advani was a "PM-in-waiting" for Modi."

Is L K Advani a mask for Narendra Modi? Is Advani a PM-in-waiting for Modi?" party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi asked the saffron party.

Describing Advani as a "helpless and scared" leader, Singhvi said the question arose as to whether Advani had been shown the door by his own party with Modi being projected as the next prime ministerial candidate of the party.

"Is Advani a convenient mask for Modi? The mask is needed as Modi might not have acceptability in the National Democratic Alliance," Singhvi said in a stepped up attack on the BJP. Ridiculing the two BJP leaders (Advani and Modi), Singhvi alleged while one of them will talk of 'raj dharm', rubbing his hand while (an incident like) the Babri masjid demolition takes place, such a party will also fulfil the Kandhamal agenda and also insist as to why should one apologise for the post-Godhra riots.

Singhvi asked, "Is this a helpless and a scared leader who has to depend on the crutches of Modi?" Cong terms Advani as the 'mask' for Modi