Murli Manohar Joshi left red-faced with pro-Modi slogans

 

Kanpur: A day after Murli Manohar Joshi said there was no 'Modi wave' in the country, the veteran leader was left red-faced as party workers erupted into slogans hailing BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi when he arrived for a function here today.

 

Joshi, who is contesting from Kanpur Lok Sabha seat, was invited as the chief guest for the function organised by the BJP unit here on B R Ambedkar's birth anniversary.

 

Instead of shouting slogans for Joshi, party workers chanted pro-Modi slogans such as 'Har Har Modi, Jai Jai Modi' (Hail Modi) and 'Desh ka Pradhanmantri kaisa ho, Narendra Modi jaisa ho' (Who should the country's PM be like?, He should be like Narendra Modi!) on his arrival.

 

Despite efforts, the organisers failed to stop the party workers, who shouted pro-Modi slogans even when Joshi was leaving the function after it got over.

 

Joshi refused to speak to mediapersons at the function.

 

However, BJP district unit chief Surendra Maithani said it cannot be denied that there is a wave of Modi in the country but at the same time victory for BJP in Kanpur is guaranteed as Joshi was contesting from here and it is a matter of prestige for the constituency.

 

In subtle comments aimed at the BJP PM candidate, Joshi had yesterday said there was no Modi wave in the country but only a BJP wave.

 

The senior BJP leader, who had to make way for Modi for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, also suggested that the Gujarat model of development touted by Modi cannot be made applicable for all states, observing he did not favour a "straitjacket" model of one particular state.

 

Joshi, however, today sought to dismiss the reports and denied there were any differences between him and Modi.

 

BJP too tried to downplay the remarks saying the party and Modi cannot be viewed separately and rejected suggestions of any infighting.