New Delhi: Just weeks before the Supreme Court is to spell out its verdict on the Ayodhya title suit issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday recalled how political parties had played a mature role in uniting people just after the Ayodhya verdict in 2010.
Delivering his monthly radio address Mann ki Baat, Modi said that post the verdict of the Allahabad High Court in 2010, a section of people had tried to create societal rift with inflammatory remarks.
He said he clearly remembers that time when a few “interest groups” had tried to exploit the situation and create a rift in society.
“Some loudmouths had made irresponsible statements just to hog the limelight..it continued for five to ten days,” he said.
In this connection, he congratulated civil society for upholding amity at that juncture.
“Thanks to the people of India, social organisations, political parties, saints, seers and leaders of all faiths, it became a day that furthered unity,” he said.
Modi’s “loudmouths” remark was seen as directed towards Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who had demanded that the Modi government bypass the judicial route to issue an executive order which can enable the construction of the Ram Mandir at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
He extending Diwali greetings to the people and also paid his respects to Guru Nanak, whose 550th birth anniversary is being celebrated this year.
“From Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji we learn the importance of service. The world bows to Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi also kick-started a “Bharat Ki Laxmi” campaign where he discussed about the women who have brought a great change in the society.
But the focus of Sunday’s radio talk show somehow centered around Sardar Patel. Modi paid rich tributes to Patel ahead of his birth anniversary on October 31.
Calling him a “stalwart who unified India”, Modi said: “We all know about Sardar Patel’s efforts towards unifying some of the bigger places such as Hyderabad and Junagadh. But, do you know that he focused equally up on smaller places like Lakshadweep also”.