Give me 5 years, I’ll give peace, happiness: Modi

• You can't turn UP into Gujarat, Modi to Mulayam; referring to 24 hours a day electricity and 365 days a year
• If UP becomes Gujarat, then the people of Gujarat will come to UP looking for work, not the other way round

Gorakhpur: Narendra Modi turned a challenge thrown by Mulayam Singh Yadav on its head, ripping into the Samajwadi Party chief, whose party rules in Uttar Pradesh.

Modi, addressing a massive BJP rally in UP's Gorakhpur said, "In Benaras (Varanasi), Mulayam has said Modi does not have what it takes to make another Gujarat out of UP. Do you know what making another Gujarat is? Gujarat means electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."

Today its Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary and he gave the slogan 'Delhi Chalo'. He said you give me blood and I will give you freedom. I request you to give me 60 months and will give you a life of of peace and happiness - Modi

"Netaji (Mulayam)," Mr Modi said, repeatedly using the name Yadav's party men use to address him, "you can't make a Gujarat. That needs a chhappan inch ki chhati (56-inch chest)."

"If UP became Gujarat, then the people of Gujarat would come to UP looking for work, not the other way round. But you can't do it Netaji," the BJP's prime ministerial candidate said.

In Benaras, Yadav had said at his own election rally, "They say, they'll create a Gujarat (here). But please think again. If you make this Gujarat, you will commit atrocities and massacres as you did there."

Yadav is prominent among Modi's many critics who accuse him of not doing enough the prevent the communal riots that lacerated Gujarat in 2002, killing hundreds of people, mostly Muslims.

Modi has been cleared of allegations of complicity by a Supreme Court-monitored investigation which was also recently upheld by a court.

Modi says parties like the SP and Congress target him to polarise minority votes. He stressed that caste and community -based politics does not matter anymore. Only development does, he said. UP sends 80 legislators to the 545-seat Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, a senior Hindu priest, Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, caused a flutter when he slapped a journalist who asked him about Narendra Modi's chances of becoming Prime Minister.

The priest, dressed in saffron robes, was caught on camera delivering a stinging slap to the reporter who persisted with his questions on Modi. Later, the 90-year-old offered no apology.

"I slapped the journalist because he kept on asking about Narendra Modi. An effort is being made to keep Modi in the news, whether by getting people to praise him or insult him," Swaroopanand Saraswati said.