Narendra Modi parries NRI delegate's question on minorities

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today parried a question by a delegate at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on why his "attitude towards minorities" does not change though he talks of achieving inclusive growth in his state.

"Vayalar (Ravi) ji will answer (the question)," Modi merely said when the delegate posed the query to him.

Intervening, Ravi said, "This is not the platform to ask questions on leaders. Please restrict your questions to the issues like investments."

As Modi completed his 30-minute speech at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here, an NRI delegate asked him when he would start serving the country from national stage.

"To serve the country you need not to go on a specific place you can serve from anywhere and I am doing from Gujarat," Modi replied. He was the last chief minister to speak at the session on states this morning at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Ravi also had to intervene when an NRI doctor complained that the government was not doing enough for NRIs.

"I think you have a personal problem. You will have to complain. I can talk to your chief minister or you can talk to him. This is not the place to raise such issues," he said and concluded the session there.