Lucknow: In the midst of electioneering in Uttar Pradesh with a substantial presence of Muslims, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) leading 'hindutva' mascot, today (May 3, 2004) presented a mellowed image and said he would seek the support of 100 crore Indians and not of any particular section of the society.

Modi, when asked by reporters about Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's appeal to Muslims to support the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, said he did not speak about a particular section.

"Vajpayee's appeal is in itself so powerful that I cannot come between the Muslims and him," he said.

Asked whether he would also be appealing to Muslims to vote for BJP, Modi said, "I will seek the support of 100 crore Indians and not a particular section of the society.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...

"In the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha polls, I spoke of five crore Gujaratis. But in the Lok Sabha elections, I talk of 100 crore Indians," he said.

On former Supreme Court Chief Justice V N Khare's reported indictment of Gujarat Government in the communal riots in the State, Modi said, "He (Khare) was free to criticise me. Now, he (Khare) is a common citizen. He can criticise me as much as he wants, but I will not say anything. On the other hand, I will go by his good advice."

Modi said the performance of the former Congress and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Governments were before the people who could compare them before deciding to extend their support.