BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi joined people in Ahmedabad and the State capital Gandhinagar in celebrating a quartet of national festivals coinciding on Tuesday — Uttarayan across India, Bihu of Assam, Pongal of Tamil Nadu and Eid-e-Milad of the Muslim community.
The celebration in Ahmedabad was special following the presence of Bollywood star Salman Khan with the Gujarat Chief Minister. Modi met Salman Khan at Ahmedabad Circuit House and talked about Gujarat’s all-round development, particularly the State Government’s efforts to promote tourism in the State. They also exchanged greetings on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad. Modi and Salman had special Uttarayan menu of ‘Undhiyu and Puri’ together.
“I am impressed by Gujarat’s good governance and people’s zest for celebrating festivals” said the film star while talking to media. Calling Modi a good man, he said that he observed development taking place in Gujarat during his visits in the State in the past decade.
On a question that who should become the next Prime Minister, he answered diplomatically and said that let the best person become the PM and the God would decide his fate. On his choice, Salman said that, he would vote to the best possible candidate in his constituency. “Modi should get what he deserves. If he is destined to become PM, he will definitely be,” he replied to a straight question on Narendra Modi.
Salman Khan savoured lunch and flew kites with Narendra Modi, while lauding him for development in Gujarat, but steered clear of publicly endorsing him as the future prime minister, saying "the best man should become the PM".
"God should decide who is the best man for the country and the best man should be the PM," Khan, who was in town for promoting his film Jai Ho, told reporters at Ghatlodia in the city standing alongside Modi during the annual kite festival organised as part of Makar Sankranti festival.
Notwithstanding persistent media queries about whether he backed Modi as the next Prime Minister, Salman, whose remarks have often set off controversies, refused to be drawn into a fresh one. "I belong to the film line. I can clearly answer questions on films. On politics, because of my limited knowledge I will not be able to give clear answers. If I begin answering your questions, I will get trapped," Salman, apparently wiser with experience, said.
The actor had stirred a major controversy by his remark that 26/11 terror attack had got so much attention because the "elite" were targeted.
"It was the elite that was targeted this time. Five star hotels and stuff. So they panicked. Then they got up and spoke about it. My question is why not before. Attacks have happened in trains and small towns too, but no one talked about it so much," he had told a Pakistani TV channel, triggering an uproar.
"Modi Saheb should definitely get whatever is in his destiny, he must. Modi Saheb has brought so much progress to Gujarat," the actor said.
With journalists still not giving up trying to prod the superstar into making a clear statement about his prime ministerial preference, he said, "I am not from Gujarat. I come from Bandra in Mumbai and for me the best candidates are Baba Siddique and Priya Dutt. My agreeing or disagreeing will not matter much.
"For you Modi Saheb is the best man. May the best win," Salman said as crowd chanted Modi! Modi! "I like him very much. He is a great man, he is doing a lot for the State. I wish Modi Saheb all the best in his life," Salman said.