Mumbai: The BJP has a second ally demanding that it declare its choice for prime minister. Today, the Shiv Sena said in its mouthpiece, Saamna, that the BJP must disclose whether their presumptive prime minister is Narendra Modi, the popular but polarising chief minister of Gujarat.
A few days ago, Nitish Kumar gave the BJP time till December to decide its prime ministerial nominee, while making it clear that if the Gujarat chief minister is chosen, his Janata Dal (United) will quit the coalition anchored by the BJP, the National Democratic Alliance or NDA, of which the Sena is also a member.
But the Sena also said today that Mr Modi cannot be blamed for the communal riots of Gujarat in 2002, in which hundreds of Muslims were killed. "Had anybody else been in Modi's place, the riots would still have taken place," the Sena editorial said.
Resentful of his habitual swipes at Mr Modi, the BJP struck back this week, stating that Mr Kumar should not overlook the fact that he was Railways Minister when the tragedy that triggered the Gujarat riots took place - a train returning from Ayodhya was attacked at a station near Godhra; nearly 60 kar sevaks died.
A few days ago, Nitish Kumar gave the BJP time till December to decide its prime ministerial nominee, while making it clear that if the Gujarat chief minister is chosen, his Janata Dal (United) will quit the coalition anchored by the BJP, the National Democratic Alliance or NDA, of which the Sena is also a member.
But the Sena also said today that Mr Modi cannot be blamed for the communal riots of Gujarat in 2002, in which hundreds of Muslims were killed. "Had anybody else been in Modi's place, the riots would still have taken place," the Sena editorial said.
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Resentful of his habitual swipes at Mr Modi, the BJP struck back this week, stating that Mr Kumar should not overlook the fact that he was Railways Minister when the tragedy that triggered the Gujarat riots took place - a train returning from Ayodhya was attacked at a station near Godhra; nearly 60 kar sevaks died.
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