The statement was criticized by Congress party leaders as belittling the prime minister of the country.

Modi, who is widely expected to be named the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general elections, said in Bhuj that when he unfurls the tricolour there on Thursday "the message will also go to Lal Qila. The nation will want to know what was said there and what is said here (in Bhuj)."