Congress afraid of a tea seller's challenge, says Narendra Modi

BJP leader Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the Congress was worried and afraid of the challenge from a tea seller and son of a poor family like him in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, as it has been talking nonsense about him.

"I am telling people how to develop the country but the Congress and other rivals are working on a single mission to stop Modi. We talk of improving the living condition of farmers and they are more concerned about how to stop Modi from becoming the prime minister," he said while addressing an election rally in Bagaha in Valmiki Nagar parliamentary constituency in Bihar.

The Gujarat chief minister said the Congress was unaware for 50 years that there are also adivasis (tribals) in the country. It was the BJP government, led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which worked for the welfare of tribals and for the first time set up a separate ministry for them in 1999.

Modi said the BJP has worked out a formula for ensuring minimum support price for foodgrains that will ensure the nexus of government officials and traders cannot "exploit" the farmers who will also get 50 percent profit over their investment.

He targeted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra again, saying the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and not him or the BJP was involved in "neechi rajniti" (low-level politics).

Modi on Wednesday campaigned for party candidate Satish Chandra Dubey who is standing from the Valmiki Nagar parliamentary constituency.

Dubey is a criminal-turned-politician, locally known as "bahubali" and facing a dozen criminal cases, including those of attempt to murder, kidnapping, extortion and a few under the Arms Act, according to the affidavit filed by him before the Election Commission.

Modi sought support and votes for Dubey during his election meeting at Rajnagar in Bagaha that falls in Valmiki Nagar constituency.

"Modi appealed to the electorate to vote for BJP candidates, including Dubey, in the fray for Lok Sabha seats in east and west Champaran districts," Amit Tiwari, a resident of Bagaha, said.

Dubey, the BJP legislator, was fielded by the party despite the reservations of top party leaders.