Learn from Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Raza Murad to Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: When Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan did what his Gujarat counterpart refused to do — wear a skull cap — actor Raza Murad took a dig at Narendra Modi drawing an angry reaction from BJP’s Uma Bharati. Murad, who praised Chouhan’s ‘spirit of secularism’ said Modi should learn from him. “By participating in someone's festivities, your religion would not be corrupted.

Shivraj is no less popular than any other chief minister but he comes here and wishes us Eid Mubarak every year and wears the topi. Wearing the topi is good but forcing someone else to wear it is wrong,” he said on Friday. Chouhan wore a skull cap while greeting Muslims on Eid. “I do not think much importance should be given to sporting a skull cap as wearing it does not mean anything much,” the actor said.

In 2011, Modi had refused to put on a skull cap offered by a Muslim cleric during his sadbhavana fast. He had instead asked for a shawl. Bharati took exception to Murad’s remark.

“I am really hurt that a C-grade actor standing beside the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister poked fun at Narendra Modi. I am surprised as to how this happened. It is the occasion of Eid so anybody can stand beside anybody,” Bharati told reporters in Nagpur. She said she would take it up with the party. However, the actor quipped, “It was time for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to learn some things from Chouhan and does not show his aversion to skull caps.”

Both Modi and Chouhan tweeted in the morning to wish everyone on the occasion of Eid-ul Fitr. “Eid Mubarak to all of you. May this pious day bring peace and prosperity in our lives,” said Chouhan. Modi’s tweet said “Eid Mubarak ! May everyone in the country be blessed with happiness , peace, prosperity and good health.”