Other States - Gujarat   

New twist to controversy over Modi's remarks

New Delhi Sept. 15. Days after the Gujarat authorities claimed that the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, had not made any alleged anti-minority remarks during his ``gaurav yatra'', the tape-recording of his controversial remarks apparently targeting a particular community was aired today by a TV channel.

The tape, telecast by ``Star News'', gives a new twist to the controversy in the light of the Gujarat Government's denial of the existence of any tapes and the text of Mr. Modi's speech during the yatra at Besraji in Mehsana district on September 9.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) had asked for a copy of the tape following a furore over Mr. Modi's remarks.

In the excerpts of the audio tape, a voice, purportedly of Mr. Modi, is heard allegedly saying in Gujarati, the English translation of which is, ``I told them that I got water from the Narmada in the month of Shravan. If they had it their way, they would have got it in Ramzan.''

``What should we do? Run relief camps for them? Do we want to open baby-producing centres? We are five and we will have 25 offsprings. Gujarat has not been able to control its growing population and poor people have not been able to get money,'' Mr. Modi was heard saying.

He goes on to say, ``there's a long queue of children who fix tyre punctures. In order to progress, every child in Gujarat needs education, good manners and employment. That is the economy we need. For this, we have to teach a lesson to those who are increasing the population at an alarming rate.''

Alleging conspiracy by the Opposition, a spokesman of the Gujarat Government, Purshottam Rupala, maintained that Mr. Modi had not made such utterances.

The TV channel reported that the State Intelligence Department had sent a report dated September 12 to the Additional Chief Secretary, Home, on the alleged inflammatory content of the speech.

The text of the objectionable utterances have been reportedly quoted in the report with an observation that the religious feelings of minorities may be hurt due to these comments and which could lead to increase in communal tension in the State.

Meanwhile the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, today eulogised the `yatra', saying it was the need of the hour and the popular response to it was unnerving the Opposition.

``The massive turnout at the Gujarat Chief Minister's `gaurav yatra' is a source of nervousness for the Opposition parties. When the Opposition parties denigrate Gujarat as `Godse's Gujarat', the need for restoring Gujarat's `gaurav' (honour) is all the more,'' Mr. Advani told a meeting of the BJP's central office-bearers here. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• New twist to controversy over Modi's remarks
• Modi deftly tackles pro-Patel demonstrators
• Cong. pursuing votebank politics, says Modi

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu