Congress hides behind 'burqa' of secularism during crisis: Narendra Modi

Pune: An aggressive Narendra Modi used an hour-long speech in Pune to declare the battle for 2014 open, ripping into the ruling Congress for its economic policies and accusing it of "hiding behind a burqa (veil) of secularism every time it is in trouble."

Mr Modi was on Sunday addressing his first public rally after being elevated as the BJP's election campaign speech. He was also speaking just two days after a controversial interview to news agency Reuters where his analogy of a puppy when talking about the deaths in the 2002 Gujarat riots has drawn much flak from political rivals.

Nitish Kumar is commander of secular forces: Ajmer dargah chief

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is looking for expansion of his Muslim vote bank after split in NDA, got a shot in his arm when the religious head of Ajmer Sharif dargah, one of the most important Muslim shrines in the country, praised the CM and called him 'commander' of secular forces.