Goa CM downplays 'Modi my best friend' comment

Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, who earned the ire of Congress colleagues for his statement calling Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi his 'best friend', on Saturday said the remark was taken out of context and expressed his commitment to secularism.

"My statement has been taken out of context solely to create media and political hype," Kamat, who left the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2005 and joined the Congress, said, seeking to put a lid on the controversy over his remark.

"I want to firmly state that selective interpretation of a casual remark could not undermine my commitment and loyalty to the Congress party's secular ideology and liberal politics," he asserted.

During a press conference two days ago, Kamat had termed Modi as his 'best friend'.

"When I am in Delhi for any conference, I have (Chief Minister) Sheila Dikshit on one side and Narendra Modi on the other. He is my best friend," Kamat said on Thursday.

The remarks drew a sharp reaction in the Congress, with the party's Goa unit president Subhash Shirodkar demanding that the high command take action against him.

Kamat clarified that while replying to a reporter's query on whether he enjoyed a good relationship with Modi, he had stated that he has good relations with all chief ministers, including that of Gujarat.

"I had told the reporters I would not be attending the function for which the Gujarat chief minister has invited me," Kamat said.

"I am now surprised that this particular remark is being selectively chosen to create confusion and hype," the Goa chief minister said.