Modi again, now with 'puppy' remark, parties react

Political uproar erupted today, as certain comments by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 2002 riots, with many parties like Samajwadi Party, CPI(M), CPI and JD(U) saying he had compared Muslims to a 'puppy' and should apologise for the "humiliating" remarks.

I'm a born Hindu. So yes, you can say I'm a Hindu nationalist: Narendra Modi

BJP, which was put on the backfoot by the comments, but tried hard by insisting Modi's remarks had been "misinterpreted" with an aim of "appeasing a particular community".

Samajwadi Party spokesman Kamal Farooqui took strong exception to Modi's comment that even "if a puppy comes under the wheel" of a car, he would be sad.

"It is a very sad, very humiliating and very disturbing statement... What does he (Modi) think, that muslims are worse than even puppies? He does not have a heart for them. He should feel sorry... He should apologise," Farooqui said.

Attacking the Gujarat Chief Minister, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said, "the expression of regret just doesn't come to Modi....There is something wrong fundamentally what he is saying."

CPI leader D Raja described Modi's comments as "desperate attempt to deceive people and hoodwink the Indian masses."