Two years ago, Syed Mehdi Husain was rebuffed when he publicly offered Mr Modi a skull cap.
Ahmedabad:
Like every year, Narendra Modi visited his mother Hira Ba in his younger brother's home in Gandhinagar early on his birthday. She reportedly gifted him a book and some money.
But this year, the BJP had made other elaborate preparations for its candidate for prime minister.
At a function organized by supporters of the BJP at a large public venue in Gandhinagar, nearly 10,000 people gathered to wish the chief minister, who spent over two hours there.
Hindu saints were present; so were Muslim clerics. Syed Mehdi Husain was not among them. Two years ago, he was rebuffed when he publicly offered Mr Modi a skull cap, perpetuating the perception that he is a polarizing politician and right-wing hardliner.
"He is doing for publicity. ...people from different communities know he has a hidden agenda,'' said the cleric.
Mr Modi is credited with commissioning reforms and an efficient administration to turn Gujarat into a rich investor-friendly state. But he has yet to prove his pan-India appeal and ability to erase memories of the riots that lashed Gujarat in 2002, leaving hundreds of Muslims dead.
As part of a larger campaign to counter those who question his secularism, the minority cell of the BJP launched a drive to recruit Muslim voters. "40,000 Muslims have expressed willingness to join the party," claimed State BJP Minority Cell President Mehbubali Bava to news agency PTI.
The party says that over the next nine days, it hopes to enrol one lakh Muslim voters.
Some Muslims, most of them affiliated to the BJP, cut a 64-kg cake in Jamalpur in the walled city area of Ahmedabad.
But this year, the BJP had made other elaborate preparations for its candidate for prime minister.
At a function organized by supporters of the BJP at a large public venue in Gandhinagar, nearly 10,000 people gathered to wish the chief minister, who spent over two hours there.
Hindu saints were present; so were Muslim clerics. Syed Mehdi Husain was not among them. Two years ago, he was rebuffed when he publicly offered Mr Modi a skull cap, perpetuating the perception that he is a polarizing politician and right-wing hardliner.
"He is doing for publicity. ...people from different communities know he has a hidden agenda,'' said the cleric.
Mr Modi is credited with commissioning reforms and an efficient administration to turn Gujarat into a rich investor-friendly state. But he has yet to prove his pan-India appeal and ability to erase memories of the riots that lashed Gujarat in 2002, leaving hundreds of Muslims dead.
As part of a larger campaign to counter those who question his secularism, the minority cell of the BJP launched a drive to recruit Muslim voters. "40,000 Muslims have expressed willingness to join the party," claimed State BJP Minority Cell President Mehbubali Bava to news agency PTI.
The party says that over the next nine days, it hopes to enrol one lakh Muslim voters.
Some Muslims, most of them affiliated to the BJP, cut a 64-kg cake in Jamalpur in the walled city area of Ahmedabad.
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