New Delhi: Taking a jibe at Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi over his decision to undertake a fast
for peace, harmony and unity, Law Minister Salman Khurshid
on Wednesday asked whether Modi was doing so as penance for his
"contribution to communal disharmony" in his state.
"In India you undertake fast either for penance or
reaching out to God, to protect someone or when you think you
have to cleanse yourself. If his fast is for communal harmony
and unity in the state, we would like to know whether harmony
in Gujarat has been spoilt and if so what was his contribution
to the communal disharmony there, where he ruled for 20 years.
"If it is for penance, we would like to know what the
penance is for," Khurshid told reporters here when asked to
comment on Modi`s decision.
Bouyed by the Supreme Court verdict in Gulbarga Society
riot case, Modi had yesterday hit out at his detractors for
"defaming" him for the 2002 riots and announced that he would
undertake a three-day fast for peace, harmony and unity in his
state.
Replying to questions on a US Congress report saying the
2014 Lok Sabha election could turn out to be a direct contest
between Modi and Rahul Gandhi, the Law Minister said, "If it
is true .... I pity Modi."
"You can only pity, whoever will have to fight Rahul
Gandhi. If it is a contest between the two, the condition of
Modi will be pitiable," he added.
PTI
