“I am not PM candidate” Modi backs Advani as PM

Expressing his staunch loyalty to L K Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday firmly backed the veteran BJP stalwart as the party’s unanimous candidate for the post of Prime Minister.

Putting to rest all speculations, Modi cleared that only Advani, not he, is the top contender for the post of Prime Minister.

“Huge investment, lots of job, progress of Gujarat, they don’t want to discuss this. There is a group based in Delhi that diverts the things. This group doesn’t want to allow any discussion on Gujarat’s progress, MOUs worth Rs. 12 lakh crore that have been signed and success of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. They have diverted whole attention by highlighting different issue of who would become the Prime Minister if BJP wins,” angry Modi said.

Modi gave the statement while attending a government programme in Halol near central Gujarat.

The development, which is likely to further consolidate Advani’s position within the party, comes days after corporate honchos Anil Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal showered praises on Narandra Modi and projected him as prime ministerial material.

Terming his leadership as a national level material at the valedictory session of the Fourth Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit, Ambani said, “Narendra bhai has done good for Gujarat and same will happen if he leads the nation.”

“Gujarat has seen progress in all the fields under his leadership. Now, imagine what will happen to the nation if he leads the nation,” he said and added, “Person like him should be the next leader of the country.”

Meanwhile Hyderabad based Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT) activists on Saturday staged a protest against Reliance Group’s Anil Ambani for his comments in favor of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Led by MBT leader Amjedullah Khan, scores of Muslims today burnt the effigy of Anil Ambani at the Ujalesha Mosque at Saidabad after the Friday afternoon prayers.

Later, the MBT activists and leaders tried to barge into the Reliance Fresh store at Santoshnagar. Police arrested the MBT leaders and activists. Amjedullah Khan appealed to the Muslims and secular Hindus to boycott Reliance products protesting the statement of Anil Ambani.