By M K Bhadrakumar
December 20, 2012
Narendra Modi’s thumping victory in the Gujarat state assembly election doesn’t come as a surprise to dispassionate observers. Honestly, I had come to the conclusion a fortnight ago that Modi will do exceedingly well, an impression which I shared with experienced journalists in Delhi who apparently thought otherwise.
Already there are caveats being put on his huge victory — that no ‘open skies’ await him, that he’s been ’successfully contained’, etc. Oh, these Delhi-based upper class elites!
Setting aside prejudices, it is crystal clear that Modi is a grassroots politician with mass base. There is a different touch that such politicians can bring to bear on governance. Won’t it be a good thing for the Bharatiya Janata Party to be led by a mass leader? Come to think of it, Modi has no peers as a mass leader in any of our national parties.
Modi didn’t render apologies. He didn’t put up a single Muslim candidate. He sought acceptance for what he was. Period. Yet he got a mandate from all sections of people — Patels and non-Patels alike — and from all regions, including Saurashtra.
This being the state of play, is it tenable to do Modi bashing? In a democracy, the ultimate touchstone is people’s acceptance. Modi has triumphantly passed that test. It is no small matter to win 3 state elections in a row — and still maintain the level of majority support.
At the end of the day, which political party has not played some sectarian card for electoral purposes one time or another? Alliances of convenience are a sensible thing to do in Kerala politics. No big shakes if Congress is in alliance with the Muslim League in Kerala.
So, where is the problem? Again, haven’t there been occasions outside Gujarat when the state machinery remained inert and refused to act to curb mob violence?
Haven’t the so-called ’secular-minded’ parties exploited communal riots? Some say it is happening right now in Uttar Pradesh, which is, ironically, ruled by an impeccably ’secular-minded’ party.
Modi should be duly recognized as a national leader. Let the people decide whether he has the credibility to be India’s prime minister. Modi bashing increasingly looks sheer petulance.
Posted in Politics.
Tagged with Narendra Modi.
By M K Bhadrakumar – December 20, 2012
2 Responses
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suresh chaurushiya says
Dear Deemi,
Bhadrakumar has impeccable secular credentials, and his views on Modi do not go against his long held secular beliefs. You sound like a parrot who has been taught to repeat popular cliche’s fed to you by the psedo secular media and vested anti Modi/BJP politicians. Have some original thinking for God’s sake. Even many Muslims in Gujarat voted for Modi - are you now going to say they are not “real Muslims”? Now le’s talk about why they vote for Modi.
Show me one politician in Indian politics who has not looted public funds except Modi. Show me one politician who comes close to being as capable an administrator as Modi. Gujarat has seen no communal riot since Godhra, and if you know anything about Gujarat politics pre Modi - politicians incited and abeted communal riots to gain minority votes. These are the reasons why Gujaratis voted for Modi. What makes you think you are smarter or more aware than majority of Gujaratis who overwhelmingly and democratically voted for Modi.
Now let’s talk about the most rediculous stale argument comparing Modi to Hitler. Are you out of your mind? Do you know who Hitler was and what he did prior to getting in power and once he got to power? Do you think using these stale arguments makes you sound informed? I saw anti Modi campaign during last election and they sounded more hateful towards Modi than Modi ever did. I have nevr heard Modi speak of Muslims the way Hitler did about Jews - Ther are no armed storm troopers and brown shirts roaming around night time terrorising minorites and opponents. Sure he is anti-Pakistan. Aren’t you? The nation of Pakistan has only one goal - to destroy India and it’s secularism. You call yourself secularist - shouldn’t you resist Pakistan the way it turned out? There is more to say, but I think you got my drift. You are probably capable of figuring out my possible background. There are a whole lot of secular minded very well educated Gujaratis well informed on world history, and we also are for Modi. So, stop insinuating Modi supporters are mainly Hindi media following bigots. Get off your high horse and stop being condenscending towrards Modi and his supporters. We are intellectuals also - at least compared to routine pedestrian pseudo secularist intellectuals like yourself. Mr. Bhadrakumar, you have changed my opinion of you as a knee jerk pseudo secularist. Bravo!
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deemi says
Dear Bhadrakumar,
This is the first time I have felt a biased piece of writing from you. This is the way of thinking, which must have also prevailed in Germany just before Hitlor’s rise to power. You are absolutely wrong. In the guise of populism and democracy you cannot sanction the rise of a butcher on the throne.
Mind you this will be a death blow to communal harmony of India
Best regards
Deemi
http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2012/12/20/modi-wins-his-case-in-peoples-court/