Sufi forum: PM Narendra Modi's message raised hopes, Sonia Gandhi's raised fears, says Venkaiah Naidu

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the World Sufi Forum raised "hope", Congress president Sonia Gandhi's message "manufactured fear".

In a statement, Naidu said the World Sufi Forum was addressed by the Prime Minister and Congress president in a gap of two days, but their messages were "different as chalk and cheese".

"Prime Minister's speech was raising hope, Congress's was trying to manufacture fear," the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.

Modi, in his speech, reflected the glory of Sufism and said that Islam is a religion of peace, Naidu said.

The Prime Minister's speech was welcomed by all as it was positive, he added.

Criticising Sonia Gandhi, Naidu said her "written script conveyed dark message that nothing is going right in this country."

Naidu said the PM had spoken like a statesman and categorically rejected the link between terror and religion.

He also said that after the speech of the Prime Minister, people started chanting "Bharat Maata Ki Jai, very heartening".