(Pics) Recount minister remark: Chidambaram hits back at Narendra Modi

New Delhi, Feb 9: Shortly after the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on the Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the latter hit back at him saying that "the country needs hard-working and highly educated people. It does not need hard working and hard-hearted people."

On Saturday, while addressing a rally at suburban Vandalur near Chennai, Modi launched a stinging attack on Chidambaram for ridiculing his knowledge of economics.

Country does not need hard-hearted people: Chidambaram to Modi

"UPA government has a Recounting Minister. He lost (the election) but won in recounting. He is from Tamil Nadu. He thinks he was the first in the queue when God was distributing knowledge," Modi had said without naming Chidambaram.

Modi also suggested there be a contest between him and Chidambaram and said "you are educated from a big university. I am from a poor background from a small village. The Finance Minister is from Harvard. I am from hard-work. Do we need Harvard or hardwork for the development of the country?" he said.

While the NDA-led government had in 2004 ensured an over eight per cent grwoth rate, "as per your own statistics, Mr Recounting Minister, the GDP growth was 4.5 per cent in 2012-13," Modi said.

Here are pics of Narendra Modi in Vandalur on Saturday:

In pics: Narendra Modi in Vandalur, Tamil Nadu

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi being garlanded by party seniors at a "Public Meeting" at Vandalur near Chennai on Saturday.

In pics: Narendra Modi in Vandalur, Tamil Nadu

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addresses a "Public Meeting" at Vandalur near Chennai on Saturday.

In pics: Narendra Modi in Vandalur, Tamil Nadu

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi wave addresses during "Public Meeting" at Vandalur near Chennai on Saturday.

In pics: Narendra Modi in Vandalur, Tamil Nadu

Supporters wearing the mask of BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi during a rally at Vandalur near Chennai on Saturday.

In pics: Narendra Modi in Vandalur, Tamil Nadu

Members of Indian National League stage a protest against the visit of BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Chennai on Saturday.

In pics: Narendra Modi in Vandalur, Tamil Nadu

Supporters during BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's public meeting at Vandalur near Chennai on Saturday.

In pics: Narendra Modi in Vandalur, Tamil Nadu

P Chidambaram hit back at Modi saying that "the country needs hard-working and highly educated people. It does not need hard working and hard-hearted people."

OneIndia News

(With PTI inputs)