Rewari: Narendra Modi today said politicians should learn a lesson in secularism from the armed forces.
The Gujarat Chief Minister, whose detractors often question his secular credentials, said, "Vote bank politics in India has become disgusting. I would like to tell the politicians who want to divide India into small groups... there is no bigger example of secularism than the armed forces."
Mr Modi was making his first pitch for a Delhi posting after being named the BJP's presumptive Prime Minister for 2014 on Friday, speaking at a rally largely of ex-serviceman in Rewari, Haryana. A huge photograph of Mr Modi and the Indian parliament formed the backdrop of the stage. (Highlights of the speech)
He attacked the Congress-led UPA government for its handling of security issues such as incursions by China and the killing of Indian jawans at the border and repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan, saying, "The problem is not at the border, the problem is in Delhi and so the solution must come from Delhi too."
The BJP leader asked Pakistan to stop waging war against India with cross-border terrorism and exhorted it to join a fight against poverty, the biggest battle of all, he said.
Mr Modi played to his 1.5 lakh strong audience, which chanted his name right through his 65-minute speech, punctuated only by the many glasses of water he stopped to drink on the hot September afternoon. (Modi's political journey from RSS worker to PM candidate)
He repeatedly saluted Indian soldiers, peppering his address with anecdotes, and the crowd, many people precariously perched on poles, roared in approval when he confided that he was more excited about being amid soldiers today than he was on Friday when his party announced him its candidate for PM.
He promised that he would demand a white paper from the Centre on "one rank, one pension," a key demand of ex-servicemen.
Rewari, about 90 km from national capital Delhi, is home to thousands of serving and retired soldiers. Mr Modi today shared the stage with former Army chief, General (retd) VK Singh, who has recently been very actively involved in Gandhian Anna Hazare's anti-corruption crusade. He has also been leading a campaign for better benefits for ex-servicemen.
The Gujarat Chief Minister, whose detractors often question his secular credentials, said, "Vote bank politics in India has become disgusting. I would like to tell the politicians who want to divide India into small groups... there is no bigger example of secularism than the armed forces."
Mr Modi was making his first pitch for a Delhi posting after being named the BJP's presumptive Prime Minister for 2014 on Friday, speaking at a rally largely of ex-serviceman in Rewari, Haryana. A huge photograph of Mr Modi and the Indian parliament formed the backdrop of the stage. (Highlights of the speech)
He attacked the Congress-led UPA government for its handling of security issues such as incursions by China and the killing of Indian jawans at the border and repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan, saying, "The problem is not at the border, the problem is in Delhi and so the solution must come from Delhi too."
The BJP leader asked Pakistan to stop waging war against India with cross-border terrorism and exhorted it to join a fight against poverty, the biggest battle of all, he said.
Mr Modi played to his 1.5 lakh strong audience, which chanted his name right through his 65-minute speech, punctuated only by the many glasses of water he stopped to drink on the hot September afternoon. (Modi's political journey from RSS worker to PM candidate)
He repeatedly saluted Indian soldiers, peppering his address with anecdotes, and the crowd, many people precariously perched on poles, roared in approval when he confided that he was more excited about being amid soldiers today than he was on Friday when his party announced him its candidate for PM.
He promised that he would demand a white paper from the Centre on "one rank, one pension," a key demand of ex-servicemen.
Rewari, about 90 km from national capital Delhi, is home to thousands of serving and retired soldiers. Mr Modi today shared the stage with former Army chief, General (retd) VK Singh, who has recently been very actively involved in Gandhian Anna Hazare's anti-corruption crusade. He has also been leading a campaign for better benefits for ex-servicemen.
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