In Haridwar, Narendra Modi defends riots' record - Hindustan Times

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi with Baba Ramdev at a programme at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar. PTI Photo Amid repeated endorsements from an array of Hindu religious leaders for his prime mininsterial 'ambitions', Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Friday defended his record on communal riots and emphasised that Indian tradition talked about the welfare of all communities. Modi was addressing a large gathering at Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Yogapeeth in Haridwar to unveil the yoga guru's new gurukul. "After the Gujarat riots of 2002, I gave only one mantra, abhayam (no fear). There were always recurrent riots in Gujarat. For 12 years now, there hasn't been a single riot there," Modi said. "… This is because of our traditional values and culture, which teach us 'Sarve bhavantu sukhinah' (may all be happy), and not the happiness sand welfare of just Hindus. This is a unique culture that I think is unparalleled in the world." Significantly, while Modi employed a largely ancient and "Hindu" symbolism through his speech, he picked instances that talked of universalism and addressed all people, not just Hindus.  Baba Ramdev endorsed Modi's national ambitions: "I have met 11 crore people in my Sabhas and I heard only one voice: the nation wants Narendra Modi. I am not saying so. It is the nation's voice."  Modi, too, praised Ramdev, hitting out at the Centre for targeting him, and cautioning it that even the British had failed to thwart people's voices. There were a few new themes too in the pro-Modi pitch. Ramdev recalled that Modi wasn't from a dynasty but "washed tea cups as a child when his father sold tea". Modi's speech was preceded by a small introduction, which called him from an "extremely backward caste." Clearly, there was an attempt to project the Gujarat strongman as self-made.  "It is our duty to save our culture, which has saved us all along. Any society that cuts itself from its historical roots and cultural shade can never make history," Modi said. He linked this celebration of culture to aspirations of the country: "We have lost self-confidence. Which country has someone like Baba Ramdev who has interacted with crores of people face-to-face as he toured the country to improve people's health? Which country has a Maha Kumbh where millions gather and everything happens smoothly? Can any management guru replicate this?" via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHd_jkFoNgntPkscWTtvmPYDnXNhw&url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Uttarakhand/In-Haridwar-Narendra-Modi-defends-riots-record/Article1-1050853.aspx

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