Jethmalani backs Modi for prime minister

Suspended BJP leader Ram Jethmalani Tuesday said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was the best prime ministerial candidate for the party.

"Narendra bhai is the best prime minister of the country, nothing has happened to change my mind. Yashwant Singh has supported my view, and I am very happy," Jethmalani told reporters here.

Jethmalani also said that Modi was completely secular. "I believe he (Modi) is impeccably secular," he said, adding that those calling him communal did not understand secularism.

He said that if the ally Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chose to walk out of the National Democratic alliance (NDA) following this, then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should let them. Jethmalani's comment comes a day after senior party leader Yashwant Sinha openly backed Modi to be projected as BJP's prime ministerial candidate for 2013.

JD-U, which is the second largest party in NDA, has been against projecting Modi for the top post, as his name has been in controversy over to 2002 Gujarat riots.
BJP has officially not made any decision of its contender for the top post so far.