SNDP, Orthodox Church laud his administrative acumen

Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate, has proved himself to an able administrator in Gujarat in the past decade, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has said.

He was addressing the Kochi Kayal Sammelana centenary conference organised by the Kerala Pulayar Mahasabha in the presence of Mr. Modi. Mr. Natesan said he preferred Mr. Modi as Prime Minister. “It is time to end political untouchability,” he said.

“Mr. Modi hails from a backward community. In the beginning, I too believed newspaper reports which accused him of being a communalist and orchestrator of genocides. Now I realise that those were false campaigns. Even Muslims in Gujarat are now supporting him,” Mr. Natesan said.

He called for strengthening unity among Dalits and other backward communities. The SNDP stood for larger Hindu unity, which unity could be ensured even without the cooperation of Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair.

“Mr. Sukumaran Nair will not succeed in botching up the emerging Hindu unity,” he said.

Mr. Modi said Mr. Natesan was a source of inspiration for him.The meeting also witnessed the merger of Kerala Pulayan Mahasabha and Kerala Pulayar Mahasabha.

Bishops meet Modi

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Bishop Mar Athanasius of Chengannur diocese has said that he will be happy if Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister.

Speaking to mediapersons after his “personal meeting” with Mr. Modi at Kochi on Sunday, the bishop said they discussed the development activities of Gujarat. The visit had nothing to with the Church and it was a personal visit, the religious leader said.

Ahmedabad Bishop Geevarghese Mar Yulious also met the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.

The two religious leaders said they wished Mr. Modi all success in his electoral battle. Bishop Yulious said that no one could ignore the development achieved by the Gujarat government in infrastructure, especially roads and irrigation. The government was supporting the farmers by providing power, he said.

Replying to a question on the alleged culpability of Mr. Modi in Gujarat riots, Bishop Yulious said there was no proof for his involvement in the incidents.

A deeper study on the issue needed to be carried out and all culprits should be brought before law. It was for the courts to decide on such matters, he said.