In a fresh salvo against BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Congress Friday said former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee wanted him "removed" as the Gujarat chief minister following the 2002 riots.

 

 An article posted on the Congress website praised Vajpayee, saying no leader in BJP "can match the stature" of the founding president. It also said Modi's faliure to act on the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat was the reason for BJP's loss in 2004 Lok Sabha poll.

 

 "NDA was defeated by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance in 2004. Vajpayee was clear what was the reason for the defeat: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's failure to control the communal pogrom in his state in 2002," the article said.

 

 The article quoted Vajpayee in Manali saying: "Some people wanted to remove him. I was of the same opinion." It added that it has been confirmed by now expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh. A picture of Vajpayee, published with the articles said "think"… "Modi did not follow his rajdharma".

 

 "This raises the question that how can a person whom the tallest leader of the BJP wanted removed as chief minister, be the party's prime ministerial candidate?" the article questioned.

 

 "The BJP might forget Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But every Indian must ponder over the questions he raised on the man who is now the BJP's prime ministerial candidate".