Actor Salman Khan spent some time on Tuesday with the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on the kite-flying festival of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti. He was at Ahmedabad to promote his upcoming film ‘Jai Ho’ which is releasing on 24th January.
“God will decide who is the best man for the country. May the best man win,” said Mr. Khan while interacting with reporters in Ahmedabad, who asked him if he endorses Mr Modi for the country’s top job. “Modi saab should be able to fulfill his destiny,” said the 48-year-old superstar.
“He is a great man, I have not seen this sort of development elsewhere,” Mr. Khan said. But he also said voters must decide who is most suitable. “If you think Modi saab is best for you, vote for him,” he said, while clarifying that he will vote for Congress MP Priya Dutt who represents his neighbourhood of Bandra in parliament.
Mr. Modi’s smile appeared a little pained at that point.
The Gujarat Chief Minister is described by his critics as a divisive leader who failed to protect hundreds of Muslims during communal riots in 2002 in his state. A court recently found that there is no evidence to merit his prosecution for complicity in the violence, as alleged by his opponents. It also upheld a Supreme Court investigation that had cleared Mr. Modi.
Last week, Mr. Khan was dragged into a political controversy over his dance performance at a festival in Uttar Pradesh, where thousands of people in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar are struggling to survive.
Defending himself, Mr. Khan said his NGO, Being Human, had pledged to fund surgeries on 200 children in the state on behalf of all artistes who performed at the event. “We did our job. We just went for that one event, we have got to do nothing with any political party,” he said.
