Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, who earned the ire of Congress colleagues for his statement calling Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi as his "best friend", on Saturday said the remark was taken out of context and expressed his commitment to secularism.
"My statement has been taken out of context solely to
create media and political hype," Kamat, who left the BJP in
2005 and joined the Congress, said at his official residence
here, seeking to put a lid on the controversy over his remark.
"I want to firmly state that selective interpretation
of a casual remark could not undermine my commitment and
loyalty to the Congress party`s secular ideology and liberal
politics," he asserted.
During a press conference two days ago, Kamat had
termed Modi as his "best friend".
Kamat today clarified that while replying to a
reporter`s query whether he enjoyed good relationship with
Modi, he had stated that he has good relations with all Chief
Ministers, including that of Gujarat.
"I had told the reporters I would not be attending the
function for which Gujarat Chief Minister has invited me,"
Kamat said.
"I am now surprised that this particular remark is
being selectively chosen to create confusion and hype," the
Goa Chief Minister said.
PTI
