PATNA: Veteran journalist M J Akbar on Sunday said the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi (NaMo) was a reliable candidate which was proved during his speech here on October 27 when he called for fight against hunger by both Muslims and Hindus.

He was delivering the K N Sahaya memorial lecture on "The past and future of Hindu-Muslim relations" in the memory of the former Patna mayor, In his speech, Akbar did not take the name of Modi but repeatedly referred to his speech at Gandhi Maidan.

Akbar said there is a total shift in the political line of Narendra Modi. He did not get provoked by explosions during his rally at Gandhi Maidan and instead delivered the best lines of his entire speech. Modi said, "Poor Hindus should decide whether they have to fight against poverty or against the Muslims and poor Muslims should choose between Hindus or poverty."

"Modi's speech reflected the mood of the nation when he said that faith in Indian constitution was the real religion of the ruler. On October 27, every Indian was convinced Modi can be relied upon. Modi will lead India to remain in peace (Aap jis taraf jaa rahe hain, Hindustan aman me rahega)," Akbar said. He termed the Modi's speech as Patna movement.

Referring to the results of assembly elections in four states, Akbar said people of India are tired and angry. "Prices are rising for the last five years. Nothing is being done to control it. The government is not engaged in fighting against corruption but to save the corrupt," he said. Without taking the name of PM Manmohan Singh , Akbar said people are unhappy as the voice of their ruler was shut by someone else. One should not treat the poor and illiterate as fools, as they are politically more mature than middle class voters who want to stay in peace, he said.

Akbar claimed in the recent state assembly elections, 15 to 20% of the Muslim electorate voted for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan as they, too, were affected by rising prices and onion shortage. "Onion has no religion," Akbar said.

Former chairman of Bihar Human Rights Commission Justice S N Jha said the state should allow religion to remain an individual matter. He recalled in rural India, Chhath festival is also observed by Muslims while Hindus participate in tazia processions.

