Maulana Mehmood Madani (L) and Narendra Modi Maulana Mehmood Madani (L) and Narendra Modi

After drawing flak from many sections over refusal to wear a skull cap, BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi finally has someone from the Muslim community who sided with him.

Muslim cleric Maulana Mehmood Madani said that Modi should not wear the cap for symbolic purposes as many politicians have been using the symbolic act to make a fool of Muslims.

"If you ask me to put a tilak , I won't agree, not at all. And that doesn't make me a bad person. I can be bad on accounts my action only. It has been our bad experience that symbolic acts have been done but real problems have not been solved. I don't find not wearing skullcap as bad. I say that those who wear the cap fool Muslims. I want to tell them with folded hands not to make a fool of us. He should not wear the skullcap. Nobody should. It is only a symbolic thing and I don't want symbolism. I want work," Madani said at Aaj Tak 's Seedhi Baat programme.

Describing riots as national issues, Madani said that looking at loss from the prism of communities is unfortunate. "If he ( Modi) is guilty then he should be punished," he said. "What good is an apology? Loss of life in the riots and the shame it caused, was it only for Muslims? It was shame for all."



Madani said: "We have doubts on his abilities. If people make him the PM even after opposition then responsibility will be on him to treat everyone as equal. He would see everyone as equal and won't destroy the country on the basis of religion and caste," he said.

Madani maintained that people have an image of Modi not being secular. "There is a view about him that he is not secular. It may be wrong but that is the view and I also agree with the view. The identity attached to him is that of destruction. If he talks about development and succeeds in implementing then he will be worthy of praise. It is good that he is appearing secular and not saying a single communal word but that is the strength of this country. Khuda kare ki dil badal gaya ho. It will be a good thing," he said.

Madani said that the idea of India is strong and no matter who comes to power and who goes out, nobody can break India as majority of Indians are secular.

"Whether he becomes PM or not will be decided after elections but if attempts are being made to create a fear perception then it is not right. I don't agree that there is a fear perception. People may be trying to do so but this country is powerful and it has the strength of non-violence. It has brotherhood and large heartedness," he said.

Reacting to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Giriraj Singh's statement that critics of Modi should go to Pakistan, Madani said that Singh is best suited for Pakistan and Afghanistan. "He should be sent to Pakistan. India will not accept such leaders," he said.

Madani also made light of the comments by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and said that there can be a good side to it.

"There is a conspiracy under which Muslims are being disconnected with the land by enemies from inside and outside. There can be a good side to that comment. If anyone looks at our country with bad eyes Muslims will remove the eyes," he said.