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National role ambition is media speculation: Modi

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday sought to scotch speculations about his role at the national level politics.

“You have seen what a section of the media had done with the career of senior politicians like Chandrababu Naidu and Sharad Pawar. The media has spoilt their future by highlighting them as future,” he said.

“Will you do the same to me,” he asked, adding that he had no ambition even to become the Chief Minister of Gujarat. “But now my cause is Gujarat and I am happy to work for the people of the State.”

Ever since the victory, there has been media speculation that Mr. Modi may play a bigger role in the BJP’s affairs with an eye on prime ministership on the back of an aggressive “Hindutva.” But he sought to send signals to the leadership in his speech to newly-elected MLAs that he was not bigger than the party, the “mother.”

In an exclusive interview with PTI, he also did not think that the controversial “maut ka saudagar” (merchants of death) remarks of Congress President Sonia Gandhi helped him turn the campaign in his favour.

He answered questions on how he saw the minorities but parried queries on whether he regretted the killings in the post-Godhra violence in 2002. Asked whether Ms. Gandhi’s remarks, Digvijay Singh statements on ‘Hindu terrorism’ and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s promise to review the 2002 riots cases helped him turn the campaign in his favour, he said: “By making such remarks, the Congress had not made a mistake during the election campaign. They had very methodically gone about their campaign. That their campaign did not succeed is a different story.”

He said: “They searched every possible way to win over the people. They felt that they will succeed if they speak these things or bring a particular person to campaign for them. They tried every trick but the people of Gujarat did not appreciate their remarks. Every few days, they were forced to hunt for new ways to reach out to the electorate.”

Mr. Modi said because of the Congress’ style of campaign and their remarks it became “easier for me.”

The BJP was able to return to power solely because of the work done by the government. “I have always asked for votes in the name of development.”

As far back as in October, pre-poll predictions by different agencies showed that he would win. “This shows that the people of Gujarat had made up their mind to usher in a BJP government long ago. Elections were just a formality.” Asked whether he would adopt a soft approach towards the BJP rebels, Mr. Modi said the party would decide on it.

“I hold everybody in respect. I seek their blessings. A senior person like Keshubhai Patel is always respected by me. It is for the party to take action or not [against the rebels],” he said.

To a query on “Moditva,” he said: “I don’t know what ‘Moditva’ is. If people are against ‘Moditva,’ I have no complaints. But if they are ready to accept ‘Hindutva,’ I am more than satisfied.” PTI

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National role ambition is media speculation: Modi

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