New Delhi, Sep 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit back at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his dig that the giant statue of freedom movement icon Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel being built in Gujarat will be 'Made in China'. Without taking Rahul Gandhi's name, PM Modi said he compared the statue of Sardar Patel with China-made shoes.

"They hate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel so much that they have started hurling abuses even for his statue. They allege the statue is 'made in China'. It is unfortunate that he went on to compare Sardar Patel's statue with China-made shoes," PM Modi said during his interaction with BJP workers from Bilaspur, Basti, Dhanbad, Chittorgarh and Mandsaur Lok Sabha seats. BJP Takes 'Chinese Gandhi' Dig at Rahul Gandhi's Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Via China, Congress Hits Back.

Addressing a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi said the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue, which the Modi-led government is bragging about, is made in China. “Narendra Modi is making Sardar Patel's statue in Gujarat. It will be the world's tallest statue, but it will be 'Made In China' like our shoes and shirts,” said Gandhi.

Earlier, BJP chief Amit Shah attacked Gandhi for his 'Made in China' dig. "At a time when India is uniting to pay tributes to Sardar Patel by building a grand 'Statue of Unity,' the Congress president is spreading canards to discredit the project. Shame!" Shah tweeted. The BJP chief said Gandhi family unsuccessfully tried to erase Sardar Patel's legacy from the people's hearts and minds.

Christened the Statue of Unity, the 182-metre structure has been built facing the Narmada Dam, 3.2 km away on the river island called Sadhu Bet near Vadodara in Gujarat. It will be inaugurated on Sardar Patel's 143rd birth anniversary on October 31 by PM Modi.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 05:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).