Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar's comments about BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi should not be taken seriously, and that the former was saying such things because he was closely associated with the Congress.
"When the public is with us it does not matter which political party says what. Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat thrice and that is a big thing," said Naidu.
"It is very evident that the people want to see him as the next prime minister of the country. In fact a lot of Congress MPs are joining BJP in Gujarat now knowing this fact," he said.
Pawar on Saturday attacked the BJP prime ministerial candidate on the 2002 riots issue, saying the entire country has seen the "mass murders" that took place in Gujarat.
"They speak of changing the face of the country but the entire country has seen how mass murders took place," Pawar said addressing a meeting to discuss the status of minorities, without naming Modi.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app