New Delhi: One of the RSS’ trusted lieutenants, BJP president Rajnath Singh has emerged as the “most secular face” of the saffron camp.
Unlike other top BJP leaders, who adopted a cautious line on dealing with Muslims, the BJP chief is perhaps the first top saffron leader to say the party was “ready to apologise” to Muslims for any “mistakes.” While the BJP insists it has “no appeasement policy,” Mr Singh had said, “Please note ... if there has been any mistake or shortcoming on our part, I assure you we will apologise by bowing our heads.”
Recently Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad had said, “We are scared of Mr Modi, but Mr Singh has the acceptability of Mr Vajpayee.” Unlike other BJP leaders, Mr Singh also wore a skull cap openly.
If the BJP-led NDA falls short of the 272 magic figure, the party could be in desperate need of a candidate acceptable to all. And unlike Narendra Modi, the BJP chief “does not come with any baggage,” a party leader said.
