[1]New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who was expected to visit Ayodhya on June 20, has been asked by his advisers to skip hardcore Hindutva issues.
At a meeting in Ahmedabad on Monday , Narendra Modi was asked by his team of advisers not to identify himself with contentious issues, but focus solely on the plank of development and good governance. The BJP is well aware that Ram Mandir issue has lost its electoral significance.
While there are many demands for Narendra Modi's participation in various programmes, the BJP has decided in principle “not to overexpose” him.
A team under BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is taking a careful look at programmes Modi could attend. On Hindutva, BJP leaders note that Modi “stands for the cause, and there is no need to stress on it by making him attend functions”.
BJP spin doctors also indicate while Modi will try avoid contentious issues, the party will also not make any overt attempt to woo Muslims. “Any such attempt will hit Hindu middle-class votebank,” a senior leader argued.
Narendra Modi was invited to attend a function at Ayodhya for Mahant Nityagopal Das, who played a key role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. There was no official confirmation, but mahants and sadhus said Modi would come, sending a clear signal that the BJP was falling back on Ayodhya.
Some of the BJP leaders, however, felt that the move would have a negative impact on his image.
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