The BJP's prime ministerial candidate, on Tuesday assuredMuslims that the sensitive issues of Ram temple and Uniform Civil Code would be addressed within the Constitutional framework.

 

Stressing this as his responsibility to reach out to all sections of the society, which includes Muslims, he said, "As Chief Minister of Gujarat, I have tried to connect to six crore people of the state as much as possible. Now, I have been entrusted with a national responsibility. I will use all efforts at my command to reach out to 125 crore people. This is part of my responsibility and I must do it.”

 

"It may mean walking 100 steps. I may walk three steps, five steps or seven steps that is a different matter. But it is my responsibility that I must make demonstrative efforts to reach out to every citizen of the country," he elucidated in an interview to a national news channel.

 

When asked whether his effort to reach out to every citizen included Muslims, Modi riposted, "I will never go by this jargon of yours. Even if you pull me, I will not. I will meet my countrymen. I understand only one language that they are my countrymen, they are my brothers. You may see with whatever hue you want, Modi will not go into that shade."

 

He further continued, "Even if I lose votes, let it be so, I have no issue. But the nation has suffered badly due to this language, the mentality of you people, and I will never own that mentality. And you please put halt to such attacks on my liberty."

 

When asked whether he would work on the unsettled issues in his party's program, given his 'teztarrar' (aggressive) image, Modireplied, "The country does not run by 'teztarrari' (aggressiveness) but by the Constitution. An aggressive spirit is for elections, not for running the administration"

 

The 63-year-old made it clear that he would abide by the Constitution on these issues. 

 

When asked whether his work as Prime Minister would be influenced by his RSS dogma since he had been groomed by it, he said, "Let me tell you, I have to run the government. A government runs according to the Constitution. I believe that a government has only one religion – India first. A government has only one holy book – our Constitution. A government has only one kind of devotion – towards nation. A government has only one style of functioning – 'sabkasaath, sabkavikas' (cooperation of all, development of all)."

 

On communal riots that rocked his state in 2002, Modisaid he was "ready for any test" but would "never surrender before lies and political motives.""Till 2007, I have talked a lot on this issue. Whether you like it or not, I will not succumb to you (on the issue)," he continued. The UPA government, Modiaddeds, "dragged" him to the Supreme Court on the issue and "now I should not speak" as Supreme Court should not be influenced.

 

"Till now, no chief minister has been grilled by policemen for nine hours. It was done on the orders of Supreme Court. Supreme Court has seen the video of that recording. I have stood that test and even in the future, I am ready for any test," he lamented.

 

Asked about BJP leader Giriraj Singh's statement that those opposing Modi should go to Pakistan, the BJP's PM candidate said "nobody can agree with that."