16 July,2013 12:19 AM IST | | A Correspondent
Modi also faced flak from former ally, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) which cited his recent comments as validating its decision to break ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party and leave the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
"This is about polarisation between libertarians, between those who believe in pluralism, and those who subscribe to the ideology of communalism," said Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari, while Congress general secretary Ajay Maken said the "veil of secularism is better than naked communalism".
Maken also marshalled an array of facts showing that Modi's Gujarat lagged on several development indicators.u00a0The war of words began when Modi, addressing a college gathering in Pune on Sunday, said that whenever the Congress government is faced with trouble, it hides behind "a veil of secularism" so that no one questions the party on real issues.
Defending its leader, the BJP said the Congress had no right to criticise him as he has won three elections based on his development agenda.
