New Delhi, Sep 14: 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 today 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
