Narendra Modi speaking in Chennai on Saturday.
Hours after Rahul Gandhi took him on in his home state with "ullu" (fools) jibe, Narendra Modi hit back alleging he has described the people of Gujarat as "fools" and insulted them.
"He (Rahul) has used a word from Hindi which is used to abuse. He has described the people of Gujarat as "ullu". The people whom you describe as fools have rejected you for three terms. You have befooled people for 60 years, now people of India will not accept you," Mr Modi said.
Taking a jibe at the oft-repeated claim of Mr Modi's humble beginning as atea vendor, Mr Gandhi said all professions should be respected except those who make a "fool" of others.
Mr Modi also attacked the governance model of Congress party where a shadow government was being run and the Prime Minister's position was "undermined".
Attacking the Congress vice-president, Mr Modi said he has not seen such a culture anywhere when an individual party leader tears apart the Cabinet decisions "ridiculing" the government, an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi's opposition to the ordinance relating to convicted lawmakers.
He also attacked the Congress-led UPA government for spreading the
"sampraday ke zeher ki kheti" (poison of communalism) even in the Armed forces by seeking a headcount of Muslims.
The BJP's PM candidate alleged that three generations of Congress have tried to spread lies which the people of Gujarat have not accepted. "Now the people of the country will also reject you like what the people of Gujarat have done."
Mr Modi also attacked Congress president Sonia Gandhi for heading the National Advisory Council, which he described as one which has rendered the Planning Commission as zero.