BJP is communal, never praised Modi as secular: Anna Hazare

 

New Delhi, 19 Jul 2013 (PTI): Calling BJP communal, activist Anna Hazare on Friday said he never described Narendra Modi as secular.

 

"He (Modi) belongs to a party that sympathizes with only one community, and is against other communities. It is also known that it is totally against one particular community," Hazare told reporters.

 

"Modi represents what BJP stands for. From their statements, it appears to be communal. I don’t want to talk about an individual person, because it is a matter of his political party. BJP has nominated Narendra Modi as chairman of its campaign committee," he said.

 

Hazare said a non-communal person, who can provide better governance, should come to power after the elections.

 

He said that he was misquoted by a section of media which said he viewed Modi as not being communal.

 

"This is wrong. Journalists asked me whether I consider Narendra Modi communal or not. I immediately said I don’t have any proof against him, so I can’t say anything on it. But some newspaper wrote that Anna Hazare said Modi is not communal ... This does not mean that he is secular or non-secular."

 

He said as far as his statement was concerned, it should not be assumed that he had given a certificate that someone is not communal, and "I am no one to give such certificate."

 

Hazare, who observed an 11-day-long fast two years ago to press for Janlokpal Bill, said the government has betrayed him on the matter and he was planning to renew his agitation in December.

 

"They have betrayed us in joint committee (formed for drafting of Janlokpal Bill), in standing committee and in the Parliament. I feel there is need to begin a strong movement. So, in December or January, I will again sit on fast at Ramlila ground and people will come out to support the cause," he said, adding his country wide tour would come to an end by then.