BJP's ally JD(U) today took a swipe at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for expressing desire to "repay the debt" he owes to "Mother India", saying he can do so even while serving his state instead of aspiring for "Delhi crown".
The party maintained that NDA's prime ministerial candidate should be a person with secular background and acceptable to all sections of the society.
"Let us see that whom does Delhi prefer after 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The country can be served even by serving Gujarat. Nitish Kumar is serving Bihar. In a way he is also serving the nation.
"Modi is already serving the nation as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. But when some politician says such things, it reflects the latent desire in his heart for the Delhi crown," JD-U General Secretary Shivanand Tewari said when asked about the Gujarat Chief Minister's remarks yesterday.
He said a number of people want to become the Prime Minister "especially those who have some power in politics. All are hopeful. Mulayam Singh Yadav has also expressed his desire for it".
Virtually acknowledging his Prime Ministerial ambition, Modi yesterday said it is the duty of every child to repay the debt he owes to "Mother India".
"Not only Modi, every child and citizen owes a debt to Mother India...It is his duty to repay the debt whenever an opportunity arises...Everybody has to repay this debt...
"I hope Mother India gives her blessings and nobody goes away without paying this debt," Modi said.
Maintaining that the NDA's prime ministerial candidate should be a person of secular background and acceptable to all sections of the society, Tiwari said the exercise to select the candidate was yet to start.
JD(U) has been opposed to Modi's projection as the next Prime Ministerial candidate of the alliance. Nitish Kumar, who is not on good terms with Modi, is also considered a Prime Ministerial probable by many.
