Uma Bharti has been named by her party as its candidate in Jhansi. (File pic)
Jhansi:
The BJP's Uma Bharti now says her comment on Narendra Modi's oratorical skills have been quoted out of context as part of "a conspiracy to portray that BJP leaders have differences."
In a statement issued today, Ms Bharti sought to make clear that she was not being critical of Mr Modi, her party's prime ministerial candidate, when she said yesterday, "Vajpayeeji was a good orator. People say that there has been no orator like him in Indian politics. If you have paid attention then you would know that Modi is not a good orator. People go to his rallies not to listen to his speech but to tell him that they want him to change this country and that they stand by him." (Narendra Modi not a good orator like Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Uma Bharti)
Ms Bharti had said this while campaigning on Monday in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, from where she is contesting the general election. (Full coverage: India Votes 2014)
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the only BJP leader to have held the post of Prime Minister. Mr Modi hopes to change that statistic - opinion polls say he has a good chance in this election. In his speeches, he often evokes the legacy of Mr Vajpayee, considered the gold standard of leadership in the BJP.
Mr Vajpayee, who effortlessly ran a coalition government of over 20 parties for six years, is renowned for his oratory, both in Parliament and outside. Ms Bharti, who describes herself as a monk or sanyasin, had served as minister in his government.
She was, however, expelled from the BJP in 2005 for "indiscipline" and was re-inducted only in 2011.
In a statement issued today, Ms Bharti sought to make clear that she was not being critical of Mr Modi, her party's prime ministerial candidate, when she said yesterday, "Vajpayeeji was a good orator. People say that there has been no orator like him in Indian politics. If you have paid attention then you would know that Modi is not a good orator. People go to his rallies not to listen to his speech but to tell him that they want him to change this country and that they stand by him." (Narendra Modi not a good orator like Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Uma Bharti)
Ms Bharti had said this while campaigning on Monday in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, from where she is contesting the general election. (Full coverage: India Votes 2014)
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the only BJP leader to have held the post of Prime Minister. Mr Modi hopes to change that statistic - opinion polls say he has a good chance in this election. In his speeches, he often evokes the legacy of Mr Vajpayee, considered the gold standard of leadership in the BJP.
Mr Vajpayee, who effortlessly ran a coalition government of over 20 parties for six years, is renowned for his oratory, both in Parliament and outside. Ms Bharti, who describes herself as a monk or sanyasin, had served as minister in his government.
She was, however, expelled from the BJP in 2005 for "indiscipline" and was re-inducted only in 2011.
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