New Delhi: Narendra
Modi today said he would reach out to muslim “brothers” like any other citizen
of the country and made it clear that the contentious issues of Ram Temple and
Uniform Civil Code would be addressed with the Constitutional framework.
The
BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate underlined that he sees all Indians as one
and it is his “responsibility” to reach out to all sections of the society,
which includes muslims.“As
Chief Minister of Gujarat, I have tried to connect to six crore people of the
state as much as possible. Now I have been entrusted with the national
responsibility. I will use all efforts at my command to reach out to 125 crore
people. This is part of my responsibility and I must do it.“It may
mean walking 100 steps. I may walk three steps, five steps or seven steps, that
is a different matter. But it is my responsibility that I must make
demonstrative efforts to reach out to every citizen of the country,” he said.He was
responding on ABP News channel’s ‘Ghoshnapatra’ programme when pointed out that
he appeared to have started establishing contact with muslim community.
Asked
specifically whether his effort to reach out to every citizen included muslims,
Modi replied, “I will never go by this terminology of yours. Even if you drag
me, I will not. I will meet my countrymen. I understand only one language that
they are my countrymen, they are my brothers. You may see with whatever colour
you want, Modi will not go into that colour.”He went
on to add, “even if I lose elections, let it be so, I have no problem. But the
country has been destroyed by this language, the mindset of you people and I
will never own that mindset. And you please stop such attacks on my freedom.”
Modi was referred to the issues of Ram Temple and Union Civil Code, which have
been a major point of contention between BJP and muslims, and asked whether he
would implement these unfulfilled subjects of BJP agenda considering his ‘tez
tarrar’ (fiesty) image.“The
country does not run by ‘tez tarrari’ (fiestyness) but by the Constitution.
Fiestyness is for elections but not for running the country,” the BJP’s Prime
Ministerial nominee said, making clear that he would abide by the Constitution
on these issues.
He was
also asked whether his work as Prime Minister would have “RSS imprint” since he
has been groomed by it.“Let me
tell you, I have to run the government. A government runs according to the
Constitution. I believe that a government has only one religion — India first.
A government has only one holy book — our Constitution. A government has only
one kind of devotion — towards nation. A government has only one style of
functioning — ‘sabka sath, sabka vikas’ (cooperation of all, development of
all).
When
referred to 2002 riots, the Gujarat Chief Minister said he has “stood the test”
and was “ready for any test” but would “never surrender before lies and
political motives.” He said, “…Till 2007, I have spoken a lot on this issue.
Whether you like it or not, I will not succumb to you (on the issue).”Attacking
the UPA government, he said it “dragged” him to the Supreme Court on the issue
and “now I should not speak as SC should be influenced.” He, however, referred
to the questioning he faced on the matter from the investigators.
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