BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi "will be a great danger to India" if he were to rule the country, celebrated author Ved Mehta said here Friday.
"He (Modi) will be a great danger to India because of his thinking differentiating between Hindus and Muslims," said the 80-year-old who has written several books despite losing his sight at the age of four.
Mehta was speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival which began Friday.
"I am born in a secular race and I will die in a secular race. India is a secular country and we need someone with greater tolerance to helm the country," said Mehta, who has lived in the US and Britain since 1949.
In unusually strong remarks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had Jan 3 said it "would be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as the next prime minister".
Mehta was speaking at a session "Face to Face", which is also the title of his autobiography.
He has written books like "Daddyji", "Mahatma Gandhi and His Apostles" and "A Family Affair: India Under Three Prime Ministers".
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
