Panaji, June 9 (PTI): Narendra Modi today appeared to take a dig at BJP veteran L K Advani and other leaders who stayed away from the National Executive, as he praised party chief Rajnath Singh for being "large hearted" which "outsiders won't understand".

At a meeting of BJP workers here, Modi praised Singh who said the Gujarat Chief Minister should deliver his address after him as "a popular leader must speak at the end".

"I am very grateful to party President Rajnath Singh that he not only gave me responsibility of a new task, but he also gave me huge respect in front of workers and people of the country. I am very grateful to him," Modi said in his first comments on his anointment as the BJP's Campaign Committee Chairman.

"Rajnathji stood up to speak and asked me to sit. It is difficult for those outside to understand the importance of this. A person does not do so only by having a post but by having a heart. This is called 'daria dilli' (large heartedness), which the President has shown," Modi said.

He did not elaborate further, but appeared to take a dig at Advani and some others who stayed away from the National Executive as they were said to be opposed to his elevation.

At the same time, he said his political career has been "moulded" by senior party leaders, who spent more time with him than their own families. Modi addressed the workers in the presence of Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Sushma Swaraj was supposed to speak, but conspicuous by her absence.
Earlier, Singh said his decision to make Modi as the campaign committee chief was "not for the party but for the country." He said he had no hesitation in taking this significant decision as this was "well deserved".