Campaign clashes won't stop post-poll pacts, Narendra Modi says:
NEW DELHI: BJP leader Narendra Modi has said election-time vitriol need not impact post-poll alliances, indicating he is willing to do business with regional leaders who he clashed with during the campaign.
"Politics isn't conducted on the basis of what is said in the course of election campaign. Look at ancient history. Elections bring about a different kind of atmosphere. Every party spreads awareness about itself," Modi told Times Now in an exclusive interview.
On BJP's showdown with the Election Commission over restrictions on his campaign in Varanasi, Modi said the poll watchdog needs to answer why BJP and he were being singled out.
"...we have a right in a democracy to register our protest under the ambit of the constitution. It is for the Election Commission to answer why specifically a single party is being troubled, why Modi is being troubled," he said.
On Snoopgate, Modi said the matter is before the Supreme Court. Saying he had opposed nothing when asked he was open to a central investigation, Modi said "I will tell you to leave Snoopgate to the Supreme Court."
He also said that he personally intervened to put an end to communal rhetoric used by BJP leaders like Giriraj Singh who had said those to opposed Modi could go to Pakistan. Modi said he had made his opposition plain. "This means I have taken action and you can understand," he said.
Modi also justified his interpretation of Priyanka Gandhi's "neech rajniti (low politics)" remark as a dig at his lower caste origins, saying, "In Gujarati, the meaning approximates to the response I have given."
He added, "Secondly, as I said yesterday (Wednesday), when there was talk of "neech" deeds and "neech" castes, isn't the CWG (Commonwealth Games) scam an example of "neech" politics? ... I am responding also to the definition of "neech" acts and "neech" politics given by others. Take caste out of it, by all means. I have no objections to that."
The pragmatic response to a question whether he could seek the support of regional parties despite having severely criticised leaders like Mamata Banerjee, J Jayalalitha and Naveen Patnaik is significant as it signals an olive branch just ahead of the last phase of the Lok Sabha election.
In a somewhat enigmatic reference, Modi said his campaign attacks on leaders like Mamata and Mayawati might well be tactics to keep the doors of post-poll reconciliation open.
Pressed to explain his stance, Modi remained reticent, saying "whatever I wanted to explain, I have. This can also be a tactic to keep the door open...I wont explain it now but will do so after May 12."
On whether he accepted that some BJP, VHP or Sangh Parivar activists could have been involved in the 2002 riots, Modi stuck to the line that the judicial process should be allowed to run its course.
Modi defended the decision to induct BJP leader Mayaben Kodnani into his cabinet -- she was convicted in a riots case in 2012 -- saying that there were no charges against her at the time.
Pressed whether he felt his government had fulfilled the moral responsibility to ensure peace when the riots broke out, Modi posed a counter saying he would like to be judged in comparison to investigation and trials relating to any other riots in India.
"If you feel that Modi has not fulfilled his responsibilities, then give it prime time coverage...And if Modi is honest, then with integrity, present the correct news, if only for 30 seconds," he said.
Modi claimed there was no attempt to protect persons like Kodnani before the SIT began its probe into the Gujarat riots. But said he did not expect his critics to understand as "You will not believe this, because there is so much filth in you mind, By 'you' I don't mean Arnab, I mean a particular clique of people. For them to understand this, it will take them 25 years, know and accept the truth."
Speaking on his decision to attack Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee during the poll campaign, Modi said he was struck by the lack of economic progress and the need to turn Kolkata into a major hub. "...Didi wastes her time in politics of revenge with the Left, it doesn't impress me," he said.
Questioned on whether he was playing to religious sentiments when he said persecuted Hindus should be given refuge while seemingly excluding others, Modi said he is willing to accept a broader definition that includes Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and others.
"A person living anywhere in this world, whose passport may be of any colour but if his blood is similar to ours, then he is invited," he said.
Modi argued that in accordance of a Supreme Court verdict, Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life and "In that no Buddhist is opposed, ora Sikh is opposed, In fact in Kearak, even today we have Christian followers, who live their life like Hindus, So, we don't discriminate but you all do," he said.
He did, however, defend his attack on political rivals for encouraging illegal immigration, saying "This is all due to votebank politics and some shoujld oppose it or not?"
"If one protests against infiltration, again it is called communal. Who will speak for my country then?" he asked.
Speaking of BJP's ongoing confrontation with the election commission, Modi said it was surprising that security reasons were being given for denial of permission for a rally in Varanasi as just days ago home minister Sushil Shinde said there was no security threat to him.
NEW DELHI: BJP leader Narendra Modi has said election-time vitriol need not impact post-poll alliances, indicating he is willing to do business with regional leaders who he clashed with during the campaign.
"Politics isn't conducted on the basis of what is said in the course of election campaign. Look at ancient history. Elections bring about a different kind of atmosphere. Every party spreads awareness about itself," Modi told Times Now in an exclusive interview.
On BJP's showdown with the Election Commission over restrictions on his campaign in Varanasi, Modi said the poll watchdog needs to answer why BJP and he were being singled out.
"...we have a right in a democracy to register our protest under the ambit of the constitution. It is for the Election Commission to answer why specifically a single party is being troubled, why Modi is being troubled," he said.
On Snoopgate, Modi said the matter is before the Supreme Court. Saying he had opposed nothing when asked he was open to a central investigation, Modi said "I will tell you to leave Snoopgate to the Supreme Court."
He also said that he personally intervened to put an end to communal rhetoric used by BJP leaders like Giriraj Singh who had said those to opposed Modi could go to Pakistan. Modi said he had made his opposition plain. "This means I have taken action and you can understand," he said.
Modi also justified his interpretation of Priyanka Gandhi's "neech rajniti (low politics)" remark as a dig at his lower caste origins, saying, "In Gujarati, the meaning approximates to the response I have given."
He added, "Secondly, as I said yesterday (Wednesday), when there was talk of "neech" deeds and "neech" castes, isn't the CWG (Commonwealth Games) scam an example of "neech" politics? ... I am responding also to the definition of "neech" acts and "neech" politics given by others. Take caste out of it, by all means. I have no objections to that."
The pragmatic response to a question whether he could seek the support of regional parties despite having severely criticised leaders like Mamata Banerjee, J Jayalalitha and Naveen Patnaik is significant as it signals an olive branch just ahead of the last phase of the Lok Sabha election.
In a somewhat enigmatic reference, Modi said his campaign attacks on leaders like Mamata and Mayawati might well be tactics to keep the doors of post-poll reconciliation open.
Pressed to explain his stance, Modi remained reticent, saying "whatever I wanted to explain, I have. This can also be a tactic to keep the door open...I wont explain it now but will do so after May 12."
On whether he accepted that some BJP, VHP or Sangh Parivar activists could have been involved in the 2002 riots, Modi stuck to the line that the judicial process should be allowed to run its course.
Modi defended the decision to induct BJP leader Mayaben Kodnani into his cabinet -- she was convicted in a riots case in 2012 -- saying that there were no charges against her at the time.
Pressed whether he felt his government had fulfilled the moral responsibility to ensure peace when the riots broke out, Modi posed a counter saying he would like to be judged in comparison to investigation and trials relating to any other riots in India.
"If you feel that Modi has not fulfilled his responsibilities, then give it prime time coverage...And if Modi is honest, then with integrity, present the correct news, if only for 30 seconds," he said.
Modi claimed there was no attempt to protect persons like Kodnani before the SIT began its probe into the Gujarat riots. But said he did not expect his critics to understand as "You will not believe this, because there is so much filth in you mind, By 'you' I don't mean Arnab, I mean a particular clique of people. For them to understand this, it will take them 25 years, know and accept the truth."
Speaking on his decision to attack Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee during the poll campaign, Modi said he was struck by the lack of economic progress and the need to turn Kolkata into a major hub. "...Didi wastes her time in politics of revenge with the Left, it doesn't impress me," he said.
Questioned on whether he was playing to religious sentiments when he said persecuted Hindus should be given refuge while seemingly excluding others, Modi said he is willing to accept a broader definition that includes Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and others.
"A person living anywhere in this world, whose passport may be of any colour but if his blood is similar to ours, then he is invited," he said.
Modi argued that in accordance of a Supreme Court verdict, Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life and "In that no Buddhist is opposed, ora Sikh is opposed, In fact in Kearak, even today we have Christian followers, who live their life like Hindus, So, we don't discriminate but you all do," he said.
He did, however, defend his attack on political rivals for encouraging illegal immigration, saying "This is all due to votebank politics and some shoujld oppose it or not?"
"If one protests against infiltration, again it is called communal. Who will speak for my country then?" he asked.
Speaking of BJP's ongoing confrontation with the election commission, Modi said it was surprising that security reasons were being given for denial of permission for a rally in Varanasi as just days ago home minister Sushil Shinde said there was no security threat to him.
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