PATNA: The presence of Muslim youths at Hoonkar Rally was significant and many of them said they were supporting NaMo because he was committed to development.

Mohd Ekram, a young self-employed businessman from Kaimur, who had come to Patna to attend the rally, said: "We want development. NaMo has proved his mettle in Gujarat. I have personally seen it, even in remote areas of Gujarat."

A young Muslim woman from Kishanganj had a similar opinion. When asked about the 2002 riots in Gujarat, she said, "Gujarat riots are no longer an issue for younger generation. Gujarat has marched much ahead of Bihar ."

For Irfan Ahmad of Kishanganj district, "Gujarat riots in 2002 took place when I was barely 10-year-old. But, since then, I have not heard of any such violence."

Mohd Amir Hasan, a convent educated professional from Kaluahi block in Madhubani district, said the presence of Muslim youths in good number at the rally proved Modi's popularity.

A young student, Sarwar from Sonhar village in Rohtas district, said the situation had improved since 2002 Gujarat riots. "Nobody wants to remember those days now," he said.

A sizeable number of Muslim youths had come from Darbhanga, Madhubani, Kishanganj, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Kaimur, Patna and Nalanda districts. Arun K Paswan from Madhepur in Madhubani said more than 10,000 people, including 1000 Muslim youths of the district, had come to the rally.

A large number of Muslim youths admitted that they had come to listen to Modi who is the PM candidate. "I wanted to know about his vision for development as well as maintaining communal peace and harmony in the country."

Another one quipped, "We liked his statement that more than 40,000 Muslims of Gujarat had applied for haj this year."

A middle-aged Muslim businessman was forthright when he said riots were not an issue in modern days. In Bihar, riots have also taken places in places like Nawada and Bagaha. "We have to march ahead. If development takes place, Gujarat riots will become a thing of the past. During the last one decade, no riot has taken place in Gujarat," said another Muslim youth from Phulwarisharif.