SP leader terms PM's secular dig unfortunate

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Gaurav Bhatia said Wednesday that it was very unfortunate that while gifting the holy Bhagwad Gita to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, PM Modi had to take a dig at the various political parties that exist in India.

Bhatia said, "It is very unfortunate that while gifting the holy Bhagwad Gita the Prime Minster had to take a dig at the various political parties that exist in India. That should not happen on foreign soil."

"On foreign soil it would have been inappropriate for the Prime Minister to talk about the political divide that exists in the country. And on foreign issues all political parties come together and forgive their differences and support the Prime Minster of India", he added.

"And most importantly, I think, the most appropriate book for any Prime Minister to gift to a foreign dignitary would be the constitution of India," said Bhatia.

While addressing the Indian diaspora in Tokyo on Tuesday, during his bilateral visit to Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, "According to me, this visit has been extremely successful. I see this trip from another perspective also. Generally, when two heads of states meet, they gift each other something. You will be happy to know that I presented Bhagavad Gita."

Taking a swipe at his detractors, he had predicted that they would be irked on television debates back home over why he presented the Hindu holy book to Abe.

"I don't know what will happen in India, there will be TV (television) debate on it. My secular friends will be outraged over it. 'What does Modi think he is? He has presented Gita it means he has made him (Abe) also communal'. They should also earn their livelihood. If I am not there, how it will happen," Prime Minister Modi added.