Modi PM candidate with Vajpayee-like stature: Vinod Khanna - Times of India

MADHOPUR(PATHANKOT): Ahead of BJP's big show by the new poll committee chief Narendra Modi in Madhopur town of Punjab's Pathankot district, three-time former MP and Bollywood actor Vinod Khanna on Saturday said that most of his party colleagues have "already attested Gujarat chief minister as their unanimous prime minister candidate". "I was present both at the BJP national council meeting in Delhi and then at the executive meeting in Goa. And I was witness to a deafening noise and a big roar of approval for Modi ji. At the end of the meeting, most of us were of one opinion that he is our prime ministerial candidate" Khanna told TOI. The 66-year-old star, who had joined the saffron party in 1997 and went to be elected from Gurdaspur constituency the same year, also drew analogies between then iconic leader and fomer prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Modi, often comparing their powerful oratory and nationalistic demeanour. "Modi has a striking similarity in dealing with subjects on internal security and foreign affairs. What China did by stepping inside over 10 kilometers could never have been possible during Vajpayee ji's term. We taught Pakistan a lesson during Kargil. Modi ji wouldnt give a befitting reply to such incursions and not sit as a mute spectator like our prime minister" he said. Khanna, also sought to play down the rift between the other senior leader L K Advani and Modi. "There is no divide. There may be personal opinions and preferenes," he said. The actor-turned-politician launched an attack on the JD(U) for quitting the NDA alliance on a "false agenda". "There is nothing like attempt to appease the Muslims. The Janta Dal was seeing a big threat in the emergence of Modi and that is where it ends" he said. Recalling his own experiences with Modi in 1998, he asserted that Modi has the ability to take everybody along and settle differences amicably. "Modi was in-charge of Punjab, HAryana and HP during 1998 Lok Sabha polls. I lea rnt the art of campaigning and the accumen to fight polls from him. I learnt how to conduct oneself among other leaders and the masses. I will be looking forward to work with him and follow the party's manifesto" he said. via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFVES1bWr5EiTV-VgJ5MDejos1qXw&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-PM-candidate-with-Vajpayee-like-stature-Vinod-Khanna/articleshow/20724896.cms

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