In his first public rally after being named as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi mainly focused his speech on foreign policy, a fervent pitch for “strong leadership”, advice for “friends” in Pakistan and how “lessons in true secularism” can be learnt from the Indian Army.
Mr Modi, who reinvented his image from a “Hindutva hardliner” to “development and good governance oriented leader”, made several references to BJP patriarch and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who is considered a moderate face in the saffron party. And only once did he refer to sulking party veteran L.K. Advani when he said: “It feels good to recall the government of Atalji and Advaniji,” while underlining the need for capable leadership to resolve pressing issues.
Addressing a massive rally of ex-servicemen in Rewari, Haryana, Mr Modi came out in strong defence of the Army and asked politicians to learn “lessons in true secularism” from the armed forces, which “refused” themselves to be used for “votebank politics” by the UPA government. Mr Modi also slammed the UPA for the Sachar Committee’s bid to seek a community-wise census in the Indian armed forces, saying it was a “sin” by “those in Delhi” who were “power hungry” and “believed in votebank politics”. He also hailed the armed forces for opposing the move. He attacked the Centre for “mishandling” recent border troubles with Pakistan and China. He also called for indigenous defence production.
“The problems are not at the borders, but it lies in Delhi (Centre),” said Mr Modi.