Learn from history of Nazi Germany: Cong to Modi's fans

In a sharp reaction to the praise showered by industrialists on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, the Congress on Saturday sought to draw a parallel with the German corporate sector's fascination for Adolph Hitler in 1930s.

"The German corporate sector had a similar fascination with a gentleman who was at the helm of affairs there. The implications for the world at large were disastrous," said Union Minister and Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

"I think even corporate India would be well-served to draw lessons. Wise people do learn from history and do draw appropriate lessons," Tewari told a press conference.

Tewari was asked to comment on Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group Chairman Anil Ambani putting Modi in the same league as Mahatma Gandhi.

Tewari said, "The myth of vibrant Gujarat is really fantasy-making at its best, because if looked at in terms of real numbers, states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are ranked much higher than Gujarat".

On the benchmark of foreign investment, Maharashtra was far ahead in the last twelve years, he said.

"Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are also ahead. Corporate India should realise the implications of flirting with the right-wing. If we draw right lessons from history, such flirtations in the past have had very dangerous implications on the world at large," he said. 

Meanwhile, Congress leader Praveen Davar on Saturday condemned industrialist Anil Ambani for putting Modi in the league of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, saying it was an insult to the memory of the two nationalists and Gujarat icons.

"It is highly deplorable that Anil Ambani has compared Modi with Gandhiji and Sardar Patel. It is an insult to the memory of two nationalists and Gujarat icons, whose ideals Have been totally erased from Gujarat. Ambani and other corporate kings should not sink to such low levels of sycophancy and immorality," Davar said.