'Secular' will question my gifting Gita to Japanese emperor: PM Narendra Modi in Japan

Tokyo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a dig at his "secular friends" over his gifting a copy of the holy Hindu text 'Bhagvad Gita' to Japanese Emperor

Akihito, saying they could kick up a storm and trigger TV debates back home. Modi had an audience with Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace here on the fourth day of his five-day visit to Japan to strengthen bilateral ties.

Addressing the members of the Indian community at a reception here, Modi spoke of him carrying a copy of the Gita during the Japan visit for gifting it to the Emperor.

"For gifting I brought a Gita. I do not know what will happen in India after this. There may be a TV debate on this.

Our secular friends will create ‘toofan’ (storm) that what does Modi think of himself? He has taken a Gita with him that means he has made this one also communal," the Prime Minister said.

PM Narendra Modi enjoys as children in Japan sing 'Vande Mataram' . (Photo: ANI Twitter)

As his remarks were greeted with a round of applause, Modi hastened to add, "Anyway, they should also have their livelihood and if I am not there then how will they earn their livelihood?"

Modi said he wondered why nowadays-small things create controversies.

"I don't know why, but people create controversies even with such trivial things nowadays, but I have my own commitment and my own conviction that if I meet some great person of the world, I will give it (Gita) and that is why I brought it," he said.

At this point he referred to his audience with the Emperor and presenting a copy of the Gita. Today I went to the Maharaja of Japan, I have given one to him," he said, adding," Because I don't think that I have anything more to give and the world also does not have anything more to get than this."

The remark triggered another round of applause from the assembled gathering.

Here are the highlights of his speech:

• The biggest mission undertaken by me is of 'Clean India'. Though it is difficult but somebody had to begin working towards it
• In 2019 will celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, he never compromised on cleanliness
• Want to accomplish the mission of 'Clean India' as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi
• I visited Taiwan, Govt appointed interpreter, he asked me, is black magic still prevalent in India? Is it still land of snake charmers?
• I told the interpreter, we aren't land of snake charmers anymore, earlier we use to play with snakes, now we play with ‘mouse’
• We have changed the entire world of computers/technology
• India and Japan took several good decisions.1st time 'trillion' word will be discussed a lot, 3.5 trillion Yen investment, a huge amount
• I brought Bhagwad Geeta to be gifted to PM, seculars in India might be debating that Modi has made Bhagwad Geeta also communal
• I don't have anything better to be gifted than the Bhagwad Geeta & the world can get nothing bigger than the Bhagwad Geeta
• Give us constructive suggestions on mygov.nic.in and we will try to incorporate those in the governance
• You can visit Govt's interactive website & send suggestions for betterment/development of India
• I believe in the days to come, with Japan's help we will be able to modernize Varanasi
• 'I am happy Japan trusted us. Trust is such a chemical that forms deeper bonds of friendship than Fevicol