Why restrict yourself to Gujarat?: Badal to Modi

Gujarat chief minister aspiring to be BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general elections, got boost from senior NDA alley, Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal, who on Monday showered praises on Modi and asked him not to restrict himself to Gujarat.

Badal who was speaking at the inaugural session of the 2-day Vibrant Gujarat Global Agriculture Summit in Gandhinagar, termed Gujarat CM as a great leader like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who too were born in the state.

"Why do you write vibrant Gujarat. You should write Vibrant India instead," Badal told Modi during his address. "Why restrict yourself to Gujarat?," he said. "I have great love for Modi," he added.

Badal further said that he would copy Modi and hold a similar summit in Punjab in February next year. "I thank Modiji for organising this summit. I will copy Modiji and hold such global seminar in my state in February (next year)," Badal said, triggering a huge applaud from the audience.

The five-time chief minister of Punjab was quick to point out that summit in his state would not be as grand as in Gujarat due to lack of funds, but they would organise with whatever funds they have.