TOKYO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a dig at his “secular friends” over his gifting a copy of the holy Hindu text ‘Bhagvad Gita’ to Japanese Emperor Akihito, saying they could kick up a storm and trigger TV debates back home.

Modi had an audience with Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace on the fourth day of his five-day visit to Japan to strengthen bilateral ties.

Addressing the members of the Indian community at a reception in India, Modi spoke of him carrying a copy of the Gita during the Japan visit for gifting it to the emperor.

“Today I went to the maharaja of Japan, I have given one to him,” he said, adding,” Because I don’t think that I have anything more to give and the world also does not have anything more to get than this.” The remark triggered another round of applause from the assembled gathering.

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