Congress demands apology from Modi on Sonia remarks

New Delhi: Stung by Narendra Modi's terming of Sonia Gandhi as "ill", Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack on the BJP's prime ministerial candidate demanding that he apologise to the nation for his "low level" remarks.

"We know Modi himself has no limits of decency, but he should at least think of the dignity of the party which has made him its PM candidate and apologise for the low level remarks," Congress spokesman Meem Afzal told reporters.

At the same time, Afzal said he was aware that it was not in the nature of Modi to apologise despite resorting to "shameful" acts and using denigratory language. Noting that the whole nation knows how healthy is the Congress chief, Afzal said that it is not proper to make personal comments against anyone. 

At a public meeting in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, Modi had said, "Madam, you are ill. Let the 'shehzada' (prince) take over. And let's see then if he can deliver round-the-clock electricity to Chhattisgarh."

Gandhi has been traveling abroad for medical check-ups. Afzal also faulted Modi for his remarks that Congress claims of giving massive funds to Chhattisgarh under various schemes is an insult to its people. He said that when the government at the Centre is giving funds to a state why the ruling party should not make mention of it as the welfare of the people is being done with its money.

"Why Modi should be bothered about it?" Taking the fight on the issue to Modi's court, he said that Gujarat has the highest cases of loans per person because of the "profligacy of the chief minister" in the name of development.

Asserting that the people have a right to central funds, Modi earlier said, "I want to ask 'shehzada', did he get the money from his maternal uncle's house. This is the people's money."