Despite the summons issued to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Thursday in the Ehsan Jaffery, former Congress MP's murder case during the Gulberg Society riots of 2002, Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari saw in him a future prime minister.
Mr. Gadkari was speaking at the 9th Indian Today Conclave, an annual feature. He gave an interview to Headlines Today as part of the event.
On Friday, Mr. Gadkari said there was nothing for which Mr. Modi should apologise, as he had done nothing wrong. “What is the necessity of an apology? There is no question of an apology. When a mistake is made an apology is given. The Chief Minister of Gujarat made no mistake.” He also said Mr. Modi was prime ministerial material and had the ability and the potential to lead the country.
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At the recent Indore party conclave, Mr. Gadkari praised only Mr. Modi the first day. The next day, he made a course correction, including the host, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, among BJP Chief Ministers who had worked well and initiated new schemes for the poor.
Since Thursday, party spokespersons have been saying that a “false case” has been made out against Mr. Modi and that he will give a proper reply to the SIT when he appears before it.