Modi "has even surpassed Hitler": Indian congress leader

India's opposition party leader Subodh Kant Sahai said on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was behaving like Adolf Hitler and that he would "die like Hitler" if he followed the path of the German dictator.

However Congress distanced itself from the statement made at the party's 'Satyagraha' protest at Jantar Mantar here against the Centre's Agnipath scheme, saying it does not endorse any indecent remarks against the prime minister, reports NDTV.

Addressing party workers at the 'Satyagraha', Mr Sahai dubbed the BJP dispensation as a government of "looters".

"This is a government of looters. Modi is acting like a ringmaster and has adopted the role of a dictator," he said.

"I feel he has even surpassed Hitler. Hitler had also created an organisation called 'Khaki' from within the army. If Modi follows Hitler's path, he will die like Hitler, remember this," he said.

Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi that the Congress will continuously fight the Modi government's dictatorial mindset and anti-people policies.

"But it does not endorse any indecent remarks against the prime minister," Mr Ramesh said, adding that the party's struggle will continue as per Gandhian principles.

The Agnipath scheme, announced on 14 June , provides for the recruitment of youths in the age bracket of 17-and-half to 21 years in the armed forces for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022.

The Congress claims the scheme is "anti-youth" and will "destroy" the Army.

The party's protest is also against what it termed as "vendetta politics" of the government against Rahul Gandhi, who is being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in the National Herald money laundering case.