Salman Khan joins Modi for kite flying festival, says may the best man be PM

NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Salman Khan on Tuesday joined Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the Kite Flying Festival in Ahmedabad.

Asked whether he supports Modi to be the Prime Minister, Khan said, "May the best man win. It is in god's hands." "People of each constituency have to decide who the best candidate for them is," he said.

"I have come to Gujarat after many years, and I see a lot of development has happened. But, I am not from Gujarat. It is for the people of Gujarat to decide about him," he said. "I have met Modiji for the first time. I liked meeting him. I wish him all the best in life," Khan said.

Modi also shared a lunch with Khan. "Having Undhiyu for lunch with Salman Khan. Undhiyu is a Gujarati delicacy and is a must-have during Uttarayan!," Modi tweeted.

Watch: Narendra Modi is a good man, says Salman Khan





Salman Khan meeting Modi is being seen in political circles as an attempt to appease the minority community on the day of Eid to garner votes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier in the day, Modi inaugurated the three-day International Kite Festival (IKF) 2014 at the Sabarmati riverfront. The BJP's Prime Ministerial nominee said that the kite festival signifies love for nature, environment and tourism and a special energy is derived from such festivities.

Modi stressed on the importance of tourism and the need for India to keep pace with the developments across the world in strengthening tourism.

Highlighting that the kite market in 2001-02 was Rs 30-35 crore, Modi said it has today crossed Rs 500 crore and become a source of livelihood for the poorest of the poor.

He stressed on the need to integrate the local people with the tourism industry to enjoy better results.

Kite flyers from various countries and across India have thronged the riverfront to celebrate the festival.

Modi described Swami Vivekanand, whose birth anniversary is being celebrated today, as a source of immense inspiration and a revered figure who taught national unity through the medium of spirituality. He urged people to get inspired by Vivekanand's message of serving the poor.

Tourism Minister Saurabh Patel said that while India's tourism growth was seven per cent, Gujarat's tourism growth was at 14 per cent.

Modi also greeted people of the country for Makar Sankranti and Uttarayan.