Maya slams Modi, raps party MP for praising him

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Sunday lashed out at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his 'puppy' and 'Hindu nationalist' remarks and advised the senior BJP leader to study the Indian Constitution thoroughly. 

The BSP chief also rapped party MP from Hamirpur Vijay Bahadur Singh for praising Modi for the remarks.

"My party strongly condemns the examples given by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi," Mayawati told media persons in Lucknow.

"He should study the Constitution properly because it is based on secularism and not on Hindutva," she said.

On her party MP Bahadur Singh showering praise on Modi, Mayawati said "that was his personal view and not that of the party."

The MP had supported Modi's remarks saying these showed the Gujarat CM is a "sensitive person and his comments have been misinterpreted".

Mayawati said some 8-9 months back, Singh was replaced as party candidate for upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh.

"Besides he has not been given any responsibility in the organisation or any other matter. He often keeps on saying bits and pieces away from the party line," she said.

Modi had stirred up a political furore by saying in an interview that he had done "absolutely the right thing" during the 2002 Gujarat riots and described himself as a "Hindu nationalist".

He had also said that even if a "puppy comes under the wheel of a car, one feels sad" when asked whether he regretted the 2002 riots.