Govt doesn't understand what the youth feel, says Modi

Even as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government withdrew the proposed ordinance to safeguard convicted politicians, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said the initial decision of the government reflected its inability to gauge the popular mood in the country.

"The government in Delhi has no understanding of how the young generation feels. Otherwise, it would never have brought such an ordinance," he said. At a student meeting at the Thyagaraj indoor stadium here on Tuesday, Modi attended 10 presentations by university students on issues such as plugging leakages in the Public Distribution System, insurance for primary healthcare, increasing agricultural productivity, traffic management and safety for women. Institutes that took part in the event included Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur, Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Ahmedabad, IIM-Kozhikode and the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.

Responding to a question on his views on secularism, Modi said, "I am seen as a Hinduvadi. But I believe first construct a toilet, then construct a temple." He criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for questioning his commitment to secular politics. "I was surprised by yesterday's statement of the prime minister…These are dialogues of the 1980s. This is the 21st century. Today, people need development...They need to build their future," he said.

The loudest cheers were reserved for Modi's criticism of the prime minister and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi.

Telegu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu was present at the event. Naidu said the Congress-led UPA government was responsible for the slowdown in the economy and the falling rupee. "The Congress should be defeated in the 2014 elections, or we will have to suffer for some more time. 2014 is a very good time to defeat the Congress," he said.

Naidu praised the Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government, of which he was part, for its policies that led to progress in highways, mobile connectivity and technology.