Filmmaker and social activist Mahesh Bhatt, who once campaigned for the Congress during elections, has taken a positive attitude towards Narendra Modi.
‘We as civil society must acknowledge, applaud and reciprocate the gesture of Gujarat chief minister,’ Bhatt told Sudesh Verma, author of the new book Narendra Modi: The Gamechanger.
Mahesh Bhatt’s statement came after Modi’s expression of remorse in his blog following his exoneration by the Ahmedabad Court in the case involving Zakia Jafri.
The aggrieved side should now take the initiative to set aside the acrimony and create conditions to enable people to live in peace and harmony, he said. ‘I personally feel, whenever anybody — no matter how opposed I may be to his politics — makes a gesture of reconciliation, talks about harmony and talks about healing the wounds; it must be applauded, acknowledged and reciprocated. This is my response. If I keep talking about peace and I do not take the initiative to bring peace, then I do not want peace. And I do not live of conflict, there are people who live of conflict.’
This is the biggest indictment of that section of public opinion makers that thrives on conflict and hate. Bhatt’s gesture of reconciliation is being echoed by many prominent Muslims who have begun to look at Modi with hope. The book, in fact, argues that there is likely to be a Muslim turnaround for Modi in the country.
The biggest example is the statement by Mufti Aijaz Arshad Qasmi, the youngest member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, who says Modi will be a good Prime Minister who will deliver justice to all.
He said that worse riots had taken place in the country. It was Modi’s bad luck that he was the chief minister of Gujarat in 2002, the book has quoted the Mufti as saying.
‘We as civil society must acknowledge, applaud and reciprocate the gesture of Gujarat chief minister,’ Bhatt told Sudesh Verma, author of the new book Narendra Modi: The Gamechanger.
Mahesh Bhatt’s statement came after Modi’s expression of remorse in his blog following his exoneration by the Ahmedabad Court in the case involving Zakia Jafri.
The aggrieved side should now take the initiative to set aside the acrimony and create conditions to enable people to live in peace and harmony, he said. ‘I personally feel, whenever anybody — no matter how opposed I may be to his politics — makes a gesture of reconciliation, talks about harmony and talks about healing the wounds; it must be applauded, acknowledged and reciprocated. This is my response. If I keep talking about peace and I do not take the initiative to bring peace, then I do not want peace. And I do not live of conflict, there are people who live of conflict.’
This is the biggest indictment of that section of public opinion makers that thrives on conflict and hate. Bhatt’s gesture of reconciliation is being echoed by many prominent Muslims who have begun to look at Modi with hope. The book, in fact, argues that there is likely to be a Muslim turnaround for Modi in the country.
The biggest example is the statement by Mufti Aijaz Arshad Qasmi, the youngest member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, who says Modi will be a good Prime Minister who will deliver justice to all.
He said that worse riots had taken place in the country. It was Modi’s bad luck that he was the chief minister of Gujarat in 2002, the book has quoted the Mufti as saying.