Congress leader Sanjay Nirupum compares PM Modi to mythical demon 'Mahisasur'

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Wednesday raked up a controversy by comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mythical demon 'Mahisasur'. His statement came after a Maharashtra BJP spokesperson on Friday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "11th incarnation" of Lord Vishnu. Reacting to the tweet by BJP workers, Sanjay Nirupam said:

"I condemn this tweet. It's inappropriate to compare Pm Modi with Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu was not corrupt, he never lied. Whereas Narendra Modi is deep into corruption as far as Rafale deal is concerned. He is not the "11th incarnation" of Lord Vishnu". 

He then compared the PM to the mythical demon 'Mahisasur':

"It's Navratri and if you notice the behavior of our Prime Minister then I think BJP should question if PM is an incarnation of Mahisasur". 

Read: Navjot Singh Sidhu Compares Pakistan With South India, Says 'Everything In Pakistan Is Amazing'

Earlier, Sanjay Nirupam called Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an "illiterate" while criticising the Maharashtra Government's decision to screen the short film based on Prime Minister's life at schools. 

"The decision to screen the film forcibly is wrong. Children should be kept away from politics. What will students learn from watching a film on an uneducated and illiterate person like (Prime Minister) Modi? Children and people do not know how many degrees the prime minister holds," the Congress leader said. 

Later, when he was questioned about his choice of words, Sanjay Nirupam added that the ruling party need not object to each and every word, and "in democracy, the Prime Minister is not God".

His comment drew sharp criticism from the BJP with the party's Maharashtra Unit spokesperson Shaina NC attacked the Congress leader. Reacting to Sanjay Nirupam's remarks, Shaina NC, she defined it as an "obnoxious" comment. 

Earlier, the Maharashtra Government asked the Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools in Maharashtra to screen a short film on PM Modi, a directive which has drawn criticism from Opposition. A government official said that ZP schools were asked to screen the short film "Chalo Jeete Hai" on September 18 as it has a "social message" and would inspire students. The 32-minute film 'Chalo Jeete Hai' which is directed by Mangesh Hadawale and presented by Aanand L Rai and Mahaveer Jain, is based on the early life of Prime Minister Modi.