Cong, BJP spar over presence of Irfan Pathan in Modi`s rally

Congress and BJP sparred over the presence of cricketer Irfan Pathan at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi`s election rally in Kheda district.

New Delhi: Congress and BJP on Wednesday sparred over the presence of cricketer Irfan Pathan at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi`s election rally in Kheda district of the state.

While Congress leader Salman Khurshid termed Modi as a "worried person" who is trying to pull rabbits out of the hat, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said Pathan joined the Chief Minister because of his record of governance. "As an observer of the election process, I am a little bit surprised that he (Modi) is having to pull rabbits, seemingly so many live or dead rabbits out of the hat. Looks like a worried person," Khurshid said. BJP claimed the rate of growth of minorities is the best in the state and wondered why Congress objected to Pathan`s presence in Modi`s rally. "If he (Irfan Pathan) decides to join Narendra Modi because of his record of governance, I am surprised why should Congress take an objection to it," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said here. He said Pathan, besides being an eminent cricketer, is also a well-known Gujarati. "By the way, the rate of growth of minorities in Gujarat is the best in the country. Many commissions have also confirmed this," Prasad told reporters. PTI