Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the fire incident near the venue of a function addressed by him near Surat could be the handiwork of either the Opposition or the Bharatiya Janata Party rebels in the state.
"This seems to be the work of either the Opposition party (Congress) or rebels. If they really want to do something then I challenge them to set me on fire," Modi told reporters on his way to Amreli district for a public meeting. Several motorbikes were torched by unidentified persons at a parking area near the function on Sunday night just as Modi's speech ended. Nobody was injured in the incident and the flames were put off promptly.
"Their intention was to reach the stage and cause harm to people but adequate security prevented them from doing so. As a final resort, they set the vehicles ablaze," Modi, who will seek a third term as chief minister in the upcoming Assembly polls, said.
"I do not think the Election Commission will take cognisance of this incident," he added. The BJP is holding a massive public function in Amreli later on Monday, barely a few km from where rebel leaders are also holding a public programme.