New Delhi:
His voice hoarse from too much campaigning,
Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate today promised "selfless" and "good" governance if his party gets a shot at power after the 2014 general elections that began today.
Speaking at the release of his party's manifesto, Mr Modi said, "I will not do anything with ill intent...I will not do anything for myself." (
Read full manifesto)
His remarks come days after his close aide
Amit Shah landed the BJP in a major controversy by allegedly saying in Uttar Pradesh that the election is an opportunity to seek "revenge for the insult" inflicted during the riots in Muzaffarnagar last year.
"The elections in Uttar Pradesh, especially in western Uttar Pradesh, is an election for honour, for seeking revenge for the insult, and for teaching a lesson to those who committed injustice," Mr Shah allegedly told a rally on Thursday in Shamli, one of the worst-affected areas in the riots that left 60 dead and thousands homeless in September last year.
An FIR has been registered against Mr Shah after the Election Commission examined tapes of Mr Shah's purported Shamli speech. (
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Mr Modi said today that the BJP's aim was to provide a "strong and united India" which would enjoy the world's respect. "There will be zero tolerance on this issue," he said, adding, "If I have to summarise our manifesto in two words, I will say: good governance and development."
His party has pitched the much delayed document as a promise to "build Brand India."
Party president Rajnath Singh said at the manifesto release that Mr Modi has "passed with flying colours" the political test he was subjected to by rival parties who "united to present him as untouchable." (
India Votes 2014: full coverage)
The proof, he said, was in the fact that 25 political parties have tied up with the BJP to contest the general elections.
Political rivals accuse Mr Modi of being a divisive leader. The BJP counters that by pointing out that leaders like Ram Vilas Paswan in Bihar and Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh, who had once walked out of the BJP-led NDA over the 2002 riots in Mr Modi's Gujarat, are now back as partners.