Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi raises a sword at Bharatiya Janata Party rally after being named a prime ministerial candidate for elections due next year. PHOTO: AFP
Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said on Sunday that India, Pakistan and Bangladesh needed to fight poverty, illiteracy and superstition, not each other.
He was addressing a meeting of former servicemen in Rewari, in the Indian state of Haryana. Modi’s speech stands out because of the relatively low level of belligerence towards Pakistan and China – he offered advice to them rather than typically waving the stick at them.
There were high hopes when a civilian government came to power in Pakistan, he said. “I want to tell my friends in Pakistan that all these bombs and landmines have not done you any good. For 10 years, work towards driving terrorism out of your country, not making your land a home for terror. It will help the youth and the poor,” the Gujarat chief minister said.
This was his first public address since he was declared the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming general elections scheduled for spring next year.
Modi is a controversial political figure for his alleged Hindu bias during the communal violence in Gujarat in 2002. An Ahmedabad court gave a clean bill to Modi over the Gulbarg Society massacre and Godhra riots case. On April 10, 2012, the court announced that the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) did not find any proof that could implicate him and 61 others accused in the case.
Meanwhile, on domestic terrorism, he said the problem originated because of the current dispensation in New Delhi. “Compared to World War I and World War II, today there are more people in the world who are victims of proxy wars, which is terrorism. We need to address these proxy wars.”
Modi, who seemed to have started his political campaign, claimed that a change in government at the Centre would contribute to making India safer and more secure.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2013.
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This is not bad advice to pakistan. but pakistanis will neglect it for sure becoz they don't want development.
@Pakistani: Jinnah launched direct action against Hindus in 1946.
Come on my fellow Pakistanis, do you think Modi will nuke us as soon as he becomes India's new PM? infect i quite like him being a straight forward person and might help us realize where we actually stand in our region.
Nomination of Modi as prime minister of India has become permanent subject of global media men majority of the them describe it not a good omen for future relation ship between the two nuclear armed neighboure states. not with standing the fact that Pakistan's prime minister has open desire of delightful bilateral relations with INdia.
The nations south asia must realize that there is no solution for their problem other than holding candid discussions and initiating dialogue process. If there is any other option than one should be fool enough to put himself in dark. In today's world pakistan and india must resolve there long standing disputes for sustaining and promoting long lasting peace in the region. Its in the interest of both nations to eradicate poverty and bring prosperity for their people.
Modi ji drove terrorism out of Gujarat ,and now development there ,is for everyone to see.But 2002 there were riots almost everyday by peaceful rioting community
It is pertinent to mentioned here that,Modi would never prove a dependable friend because he is a bias naturally, vide his past political activities.
This is a fact to some extent,reponsibility and sense of duties change approach but he is not among those he is enemy and will remain enemy of Pakistan ,see his character and dialogue during the war happened with India in 1971.
Gulbarg society massacre is a aceeptable vital evidence to approach his hindu nature see his rolecommunal violenece in Gujran in 2002.
First time,language regarding Pakistan has been changed it is only for purpose to gain majority of indian muslims votes for enterence into the power corridore.
@Pakistani: Just imagine if some Muslim leader....? Do you have any other kind? And who was in power in Punjab during the recent Joseph Colony attacks or during the Gojra riots?
@Pakistani, You're a yet another victim of Congress propaganda against Modi. Riots keep happening in India; it's not a new phenomenon. If you open your eyes, you'll find more to Modi than Gujarat riots.
For 10 years, work towards driving terrorism out of your country, Look how's talking?.Lolz.............
Modi got nominated for whatever he has done in Gujarat, ie better administration, less corruption and more to the gujaratis, both hindu and muslim. Pakistani : Could u pl explain what else Modi did.
Just imagine if some Muslim leader had done this what this person did in Gujarat, will that Muslim leader be nominated PM?