Zee Media Bureau/Deepak Nagpal
New Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday had a firm message for BJP`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi – that she is Rajiv Gandhi`s daughter.
The retort came after it emerged that Modi had, during an interview to state broadcaster Doordarshan, described Priyanka `like his daughter`.
Priyanka minced no words and categorically stated, “I am Rajiv Gandhi`s daughter.”
Priyanka`s reaction came shortly after Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram expressed doubts whether the Congress president`s daughter would be happy to consider Modi as a father figure.
“I am happy that Modi considers Priyanka Gandhi as his daughter, but am not sure if she will be happy to consider Modi as a father figure,” Chidambaram said.
The interview had led to controversy after an English daily claimed that DD edited out the portion and even broadcast it in a low-profile manner sans any pre-telecast promotion.
Further, the tete-e-tete - as part of the programme `Khas Mulaqat` – was telecast nearly two days after being recorded, on April 27. Prior to the telecast, there was even buzz on social media that the interview could altogether be nixed.
"As a measure of abundant caution it was decided to edit out the part where Modi refused to attack Priyanka Gandhi in response to a question, saying she was like his daughter and not a political rival like her mother, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi," a source told the daily, adding Modi even said that in Indian culture daughters were not targeted.
Modi is reported to have also said during the interview, recorded on April 26 morning, that he had been "blacked-out" by the DD Kendra in Gujarat.
Sources said there was even speculation that the interview should be delayed till DD manages to get an interview with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to balance out things.
Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar said he was not aware if any portions were edited out.
