Gandhinagar, Jan 12 (IANS): Union minister Smriti Irani on Thursday said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he is "worried" about Modi's growing popularity and "desperate" to save his political legacy.

"On Wednesday, Rahulji said some words about our Prime Minister. Congress' repeated defeat in elections is an indication that people have shown faith in Modi's leadership and their support and blessings are with the Narendrabhai Modi," the Union Textiles Ministersaid.

She was talking to media persons on the sidelines of a seminar on textiles at the "Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017" here.

Irani was reacting to Rahul Gandhi's speech at a national convention of the Congress in Delhi on Wednesday where he accused Modi of instilling fear among people and disrupting the country's economy through demonetisation. Gandhi said his party would snatch power from the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Irani said: "After returning from vacation and after introspection, Rahulji is worried about Modi's popularity growing both in the country and internationally."

"In such a situation, it is but natural for him to make such derogatory remarks on Narendrabhai Modi in his desperate attempt to save his political legacy."

"I would only like to say that people's support and trust for Modiji is the biggest reply to Rahulji," she said.

Gandhi's work for the development of his Lok Sabha constituency of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh and Modi's work as the Gujarat Chief Minister over the last decade are there for people to compare, she added.

"The Vibrant Summit was started when Modi was the Gujarat Chief Minister. I have contested elections from Amethi. The man who has not developed Amethi in 10 years of his political career is commenting on the person who has elevated entire Gujarat as an economic power at the world level," Irani said.