Uma Bharti sticks to `Modi not a good orator` remark, admits he is popular

Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava

Jhansi: A day after stirring a controversy by questioning the oratory skills of her party`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, outspoken BJP leader Uma Bharti on Tuesday reiterated that the Gujarat Chief Minister is a popular leader but not a very good orator. "I stand by what I said. Modi ji is extremely popular but not a good orator as AB Vajpayee ji,” Bharti told reporters today. Bharti had on Monday said that Modi is "not a good orator" and people go to his rallies to show support rather than listen to him. "Have you heard Modi making speeches? Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the best orator of our party. Nobody equals his oratory skills in Indian politics," she said, addressing a BJP workers meet in Jhansi from where she has been nominated by the party for the Lok Sabha polls. "If you have analysed deeply, Modi is not a good orator. But many people flock to his rallies to listen to his speech, but do you know why? The crowd goes to Modi`s rallies to show support, rather than to listen to him," she said. The firebrand BJP leader also attacked Congress chief Sonia Gandhi by saying that she is not a strong candidate and can be easily defeated. “Sonia is not a strong contender. You (media) have made and consider Sonia Gandhi a strong candidate otherwise she is not,” Bharti said while hitting out at the Congress chief. Interestingly, Uma Bharti had given a tough time to her party in finalising a strong candidate to contest against the Congress president as she was reluctant in leaving Jhansi from where she is contesting the Lok Sabha polls. She, however, said that she was ready to fight against Sonia in Rae Bareli but would also contest from Jhansi. BJP finally fielded noted Supreme Court lawyer Ajay Aggarwal against Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli.