Swami Agnivesh does a U-turn, endorses Narendra Modi

New Delhi, April 26: Less than two years ago, social activist

said that

Chief Minister

would never become the prime minister of India because of his "mishandling of the 2002 Gujarat riots". [

] He critcised Modi's model of development and said it was time to tell people how much it had affected Gujarat adversely.

Now, the same Agnivesh has taken a U-turn.

According to a report published in The Hindu on Saturday, Swami Agnivesh wrote to Modi on April 23 saying he felt there was a shift in Modi's ideology and he was directing the political debate more towards "development and good governance". He also wrote in his letter that he was impressed with the BJP prime ministerial candidate's speeches and interviews during the campaigns in which he flayed communal and casteist politics, the report said.

Swami Agnivesh said in July 2012 that Modi could never become the PM

The activist said Modi had successfully marginalised right-wing Hindu outfits and sidelined the issue of Ram Mandir. He said Modi was becoming more inclusive, the report added.

He also appreciated Modi's views against cow slaughter and alcoholism.

Oneindia News