Will do nothing with bad intent: Narendra Modi

Faced with a taint over the 2002 Gujarat riots, Narendra Modi today vowed that he will not do anything with "bad intent" if he becomes Prime Minister as he outlined his vision.

"The party has bestowed me with certain responsibility. I want to make three promises personally -- I will never be found wanting on hard work, I will not do anything for myself and I will not do anything with bad intent," the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate said.

His thrust on doing nothing with "badh irada (bad intent)" assumes significance as certain sections, particularly the minorities, have apprehensions about his rule given the taint of 2002 riots.

Modi was speaking here at a function to release the party's manifesto where he underlined that his main focus would be on "good governance and development" with a strong government at the centre.

Seeking a mandate for 60 months, Modi said the country is in bad state and full of pessimism and the manifesto outlines the "direction, goal and commitment" to correct the situation.

He said the government has the main responsibility of catering to the needs of the poor and deprived and his administration would focus on this aspect, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.