"Rahul Gandhi had not even mentioned the name of the Prime Minister. He had only expressed his views regarding the ordinance. He did not even ask the government to withdraw it," party leader Rashid Alvi said in reaction to Modi's speech at a rally in the national capital.
Alvi alleged that it was Modi who was "denigrating" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with his remarks here at a time when he is in New York meeting various heads of state promoting the cause of the nation.
"People of Gujarat need Modi there. It is unfortunate that he is ignoring his own people who elected him as Chief Minister and is in Delhi, misguiding the nation".
Earlier in the day, in a scathing attack on Gandhi, the BJP's PM candidate accused him of undermining authority of the Prime Minister and asked people to decide if the nation will be run according to the Constitution or whims of the "prince".
Addressing a rally, his first in the capital after being named the Prime Ministerial candidate by BJP, Modi alleged, "The pride of the Prime Minister has been brought down by his own party. Congress party Vice President has committed the sin of disrespecting the Prime Minister.