Priyanka Gandhi hits back on Modi's daughter comment, says 'I am Rajiv Gandhi’s daughter'

New Delhi: Reacting to media reports that BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s interview to Doordarshan, where he had described her like a daughter, was “edited”, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday said that she is Rajiv Gandhi’s daughter.

Dismissing the reported comments by Mr Modi, Ms Vadra said that she did not “appreciate” this comparison with her father. “I’m Rajiv Gandhi’s daughter,” she replied in Amethi.

Priyanka, who is on a campaign trail in Amethi, reacted sharply when she was asked by reporters to comment on purported remarks by the BJP prime ministerial candidate that she was like a daughter to him. Priyanka's brother Rahul is the Congress candidate from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

"Main Rajiv Gandhi ki beti hoon. Woh desh ke liye shaheed huein hai aur merey dil mein unki jagah aur koi nahin le sakta,' (I am Rajiv Gandhi's daughter. He has been martyred for the country and in my heart, no one can take his place)," she said.  Priyanka was in her SUV and halted briefly to shake hands with some supporters.

Initially she did not answer the question but later came out of the SUV and with a stern face and replied to the query and left without answering any other question.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, “I am happy Modi considers Priyanka Gandhi as his daughter; not sure if she will be happy to consider Modi as a father figure.”

'The Times of India' has claimed that DD edited out the portion where Modi described Priyanka ‘like his daughter’ and also broadcasted it in a low-profile manner without any pre-telecast promotion. Chidambaram denied any government role in the 'editing' controversy, saying, "Doordarshan is free to take what it wants."

The daily reported a source saying, “As a measure of abundant caution it was decided to edit out the part where Modi refused to attack Priyanka Gandhi in response to a question, saying she was like his daughter and not a political rival like her mother Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Modi even said that in Indian culture daughters were not targetted.”

Reportedly, Modi also said during the interview, recorded on the morning of April 26, that he had been "blacked out" by the DD Kendra in Gujarat.

Priyanka, who is campaigning for her mother and brother in Amethi and Rae Bareli, has recently stepped up attack on Narendra Modi. In one, she has berated Narend

The BJP, however, alleged that Doordarshan had “censored” Mr Modi’s interview due to government “pressure”.

(Read: Narendra Modi interview not altered: Centre)

Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on Thursday, created a furor in Amethi when she broke away from her SPG security cordon and went ahead campaigning on her own.

Ms Vadra went ahead for campaigning in Tiloi assembly segment  without the security cover of the elite protection agency.

According to SP Hiralal, when Ms Vadra reached Gandhi Nagar near Gauriganj, she stepped out of her SUV and stopped SPG personnel from following her and moved to Tiloi for campaigning.

The Uttar Pradesh police personnel followed her but apparently could nto keep pace.

Ms Vadra was schedule to address a meeting at Shahmau near Kasimpur but she changed her route.

Congress sources said that Ms Vadra was apparently upset with the attitude of SPG personnel during her interaction with people.

“She wants to mingle freely with the people  but was upset when she saw the SPG personnel rudely pushing people behind,” said a party worker.

Meanwhile, principal home secretary in the Uttar Pradesh government Anil Kumar Gupta said, “It is a matter of concern and SPG headquarters will be informed about the incident.”

(Read: Modi thinks he is already PM: Sonia Gandhi)