His voice hoarse from too much campaigning, Narendra Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate today promised “selfless” and “good” governance if his party gets a shot at power after the 2014 general elections.
Speaking at the release of his party’s manifesto, Mr Modi said, “I will not do anything with ill intent…I will not do anything for myself.”
His remarks come days after his close aide Amit Shah landed the BJP in a major controversy by allegedly saying in Uttar Pradesh that the election is an opportunity to seek “revenge for the insult” inflicted during the riots in Muzaffarnagar last year.
“The elections in Uttar Pradesh, especially in western Uttar Pradesh, is an election for honour, for seeking revenge for the insult, and for teaching a lesson to those who committed injustice,” Mr. Shah allegedly told a rally on Thursday in Shamli, one of the worst-affected areas in the riots that left 60 dead and thousands homeless in September last year.
An FIR has been registered against Mr. Shah after the Election Commission examined tapes of Mr Shah’s purported Shamli speech.
Mr. Modi said that the BJP’s aim was to provide a “strong and united India” which would enjoy the world’s respect. “There will be zero tolerance on this issue,” he said, adding, “If I have to summarise our manifesto in two words, I will say: good governance and development.”
His party has pitched the much delayed document as a promise to “build Brand India.”
