Visionary, nationalist, secular, a true leader, great administrator, future PM
Two altogether different set of words with different meaning. But these adjectives are often used as a preface for one common man. Narendra Damodardas Modi. Isn’t it intriguing how a same man can evoke such strong reactions as exhibited by the choice of the words above? Doesn’t it create a feeling of confusion? Lets address the confusion.
Narendra Modi ,post 2002, has been the object of utmost “attention” of the very “ethical” media, intellectuals (some of them are actually self professed & self announced intellectuals) and of course the Congress and some other parties who call themselves “secular”. Is Narendra Modi really an embodiment of all the hate words that’s often been attributed to his name? Is it really the case?
Let’s begin by addressing the major charges against Narendra Modi or NaMo as he is popularly called by his supporters and followers.
Charge 1 - He engineered the riots of 2002. There were allegations by Sanjiv Bhatt, Gujrat IPS charging Modi of abetting the riots.
Charge 2 - His government carried out encounter killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh
Charge 3 - He tries to portray himself as bigger than the party.
Charge 4 - He is popular just within Gujarat & Gujratis. He doesn’t have a following outside Gujarat
Charge 5 - He has not done enough for the minority & only hindus have benefited
Charge 6 -He uses social media to his advantage !!! (trust me many sections of people & media have made this charge too)
Charge 6 (a joke) - This is a latest one on twitter by an ‘expert’. The expert says that Modi moves and behaves like a Pehelwan!!! (Gosh! I am not going to comment on this one)
The charges above, makes it seem, that Modi is indeed a monster. A monster who just kills minority. A man who is popular without any concrete reason. So are people supporting a wrong man? Is the country in major risk of becoming highly volatile if he becomes the PM? Let’s look into it -
Charge 1 - He ‘engineered’ the riots. He was slow in reacting to the riots and the intelligence reports provided to him by, amongst others, Sanjeev Bhat were apparently not listened by Modi.
Yes riots happened in 2002 but what triggered the mass violence. The riots (here I mean the one which was covered by media/intellectuals & followed till date) was triggered by, if not more but nothing less in propensity, another act of gross violence when 59 kar sevaks, belonging to the Hindu community, were burnt alive inside a compartment in Godhra. Doesn’t this act remind us of pre-partition days violence? It does, at least for me. The killing of the kar sevaks sent a wave of impatience and anger amongst the people and then the riots followed. It was a mob which started the riots and members of both the community got killed. So it was NOT triggered by Modi?
Sanjiv Bhatt, after a gap of 9 years, suddenly woke up to a call of his conscience and decided to target the CM (about his lack of action). His claim of attending the high level meeting chaired by CM on 27th February 2002, has been rejected by the other officers who had attended the meeting.
So, Mr. Bhatt gets the testimony of his driver who “confirmed” that Bhatt had attended the meeting. Did his driver also attend the meeting to have confirmed it? Ok , he saw Bhatt entering the CM residence but how does it prove that Bhatt indeed was there in the meeting? He, for all reasons, mite have been asked to wait outside.
Later on he raises the question mark on the integrity of the SIT which had already dismissed his views.
So why does the name of Bhatt keep emerging? Thanks to the media who found a blue eyed boy in him. The media questions the decision of Gujrat government to suspend the cop. Why was Bhatt suspended? Because he had neglected his duties and went on leave without permission. Isn’t this act worth of a suspension? In his past, he had indulged in similar acts of indiscipline.
In 1990, when Bhatt was posted as Dy. Sup. of police at Jamkhambhliya taluka of Jamnagar
There was another allegation of a bandh being called by BJP which was the reason for the riots? Being a BJP state, the bandh , for any cause , would have been successful. But how did the bandh lead to riots. Did the leaders publicly call people to go and kill?
Rather. Modi managed to control the riots in three days and had got military on the streets of major cities in the second day, thus preventing any further loss of life. Isn’t it worth consideration? Which major riots in other states got over in one or two hours?
Let me reiterate that riots are bad for any state but the sheer objective targeting of the Gujrat riots is uncalled for. There have been many riots before and after 2002 (with many of them in Congress states). So if the media has taken upon itself the task of unraveling the riot creators, it should also target the rioters in other states.
One of the recent one being in Hyderabad Old city in March 2010 (I leave it to your imagination as to who were the major casualty in the old hyderabd).We have had 1984 which was justified by the statement of then PM Rajiv Gandhi. In his words, "when a big tree falls, earth shakes” but all these riots have been forgotten or mentioned more as an after thought. Rajiv Gandhi had moved on but media/intellectuals made Modi stop at 2002 but it is to the sheer credit of his strong character that he did not bow down to such assertions of media and did what was desired of him.
One of the recent one being in Hyderabad Old city in March 2010 (I leave it to your imagination as to who were the major casualty in the old hyderabd).We have had 1984 which was justified by the statement of then PM Rajiv Gandhi. In his words, "when a big tree falls, earth shakes” but all these riots have been forgotten or mentioned more as an after thought. Rajiv Gandhi had moved on but media/intellectuals made Modi stop at 2002 but it is to the sheer credit of his strong character that he did not bow down to such assertions of media and did what was desired of him.
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More importantly, he ensured that there was NO single riot in the years following 2002. Hasn’t many congress states witnessed riots at regular intervals but which never got the media attention that was due to them.
Charge 2 – Gujrat government ordered fake encounter killing of Soharabuddin Sheikh
Who is Soharabuddin Sheikh? A gangster having links with, Dawood Ibrahim, with 13 cases against him in three cities. Recently he had started an extortion racket with aid of politicians & policemen.
I question the so much hullaboo behind the killing of a dreaded gangster whether in a fake encounter or in a proper encounter.
But still, if it is a Human Rights violation, then is it the first ever fake encounter killing? Hasn’t there been so many in Bombay
He initially supported him but when some evidence and allegations of people, like Sanjiv Bhatt (who being an IPS officer, illegally checked the email of Addnl Attorney General), Teesta Seetalwad ( I wont even talk about her, please) came up, he immediately asked the agencies to do the needful. In fact Gujrat government accepted that Rubina Sheikh was killed too. So let the proceedings happen against the culprits but why target Modi????
Charge 3) He tries to portray himself bigger than the party
When did he ever make any statement or show any indications supporting such an intent or charge (by his detractors). Has he ever raised any rebellion against the party High Command. Has he ever questioned their any decision? This, despite the mass following, should be ascribed to his high discipline, inculcated by his years of association with RSS, and extreme commitment to party.
It is true that today lots of people associate BJP with Narendra Modi but what’s wrong in it? The sheer fact that people have loved him and respected him to think as such can not be questioned, so why blame Modi for the thoughts or rabid support of the people. This is needless to mention though that BJP has been a disciplined party but may be some individual ambitions have created a wrong impression. But I feel it is media which has created such an image because they are aware of this man’s sheer popularity and use this charge (which is a figment of their imagination) as a tool to thwart his future growth.
Charge 4 – he is just popular in Gujarat and not outside its boundaries.
A small look at twitter or tweets of Non-Gujrati is enough to counter this base less charge. I feel there is hardly any Indian (unless completely devoid of political news) who does not know of Modi and holds a strong opinion of him. He is popular across the country and the number of people who queue up to attend his meetings is a testimony for the same. By the way, Yours Truly is a Bengali.
Forget India , today even the congressional Research service report of US has highlighted the great role of Narendra Modi in developing Gujarat . The same US which had once refused to grant him visa (needless to mention the media had gone overboard when visa was refused but the same exuberance was missing when congressaional report praised Modi). Today China is acknowledging Gujarat’s strength in manufacturing sector and is now keen to partner Gujarat .
Charge 5 – He has not done enough for the minority & only the hindus have benefited
Well the recent episode involving Ghulam mohammad Vastanvi is enough to falsify such a blatant allegation. Vastanvi , the head of darul Uloom Deoband (India Gujarat . He is not used to make a statement out of the blue. He said what he had seen in Gujrat, being a Gujrati himself.
What wonders me though is the behaviour of media post the statement (& ultimately his relinquishing his post). Did the media ever go to Gujrat, did they ever talk to any members of the minority to fathom whether they are actually being still victimized. Every community has prospered and the fact that members of minority chose to attend the “Sadbhavna diwas” on 17th September 2011, speaks of the reality
Charge 6 – he uses social media like facebook & twitter a lot.
Which media has highlighted his great work for the state except just mentioning it as ‘one more news or a scroll’/? In view of such apathy from the media, what’s wrong in his using the social media to spread word about the progress? Can we dispute the fact that one and all got to know a lot about his great work through social media. Rather it again showcases his vision and respect for technology and its pro-active use.
So more or less we have tried to touch upon the allegations against Modi (though a lot of justifications can be added to thwart such allegations). Let’s very, very quickly see some of his visionary actions –
- Today Gujrat is the hub of industrialization
- Gujrat global summit saw investments like never before. In fact Anil Ambani publicly said that Modi should be the PM
- Puegot, Ford, TATA Motors, Maruti are setting up their shop in Gujrat
- iCreate - aims at providing most suitable environment to the young entrepreneurs who want to come up with new innovative ideas and products with the skillful use of technology. The project will be guided by an advisory board led by Mr Narayan Murthy. Mr Murthy has gone on record, for his praise of Modi.
- Post the Gujrat earthquake and the relief work undertaken by Modi Government, on 16-10-2003
- Rishi Mahotsav – agricultural research labs for the land
- Chiranjeevi Yojana – To reduce infant mortality rate
- Matru Vandana – Providing preventive and curative services under the Reproductive and Child Health Programme
- Beti Bachao – Campaign against female infanticide to improve sex ratio
- Jyotigram Yojana – Provide electricity to every village
- Karmayogi Abhiyan – To educate and train government employees
- Kanya Kelavani Yojana – To encourage female literacy and education
- Balbhog Yojana – Midday meal scheme for students to encourage school attendance from poor backgrounds.
- 13000 teachers added to Gujarat’s teaching fraternity… entrusted them the responsibility to shape
- Gujarat has set an example for
- Guj CM fellowship is an unprecedented chance for youth to get first-hand experience & be a part of participative governance
- Guj solar mission taking new heights. In fact, his own house produces 80watt of electricity everyday
- Upgrading technology in RTOs & youth's skills in trades & industries, inaugurated modern RTO & a new ITI.
- He gave 521 gifts worth Rs 14 lacs to ‘girl child education wealth’ counting 10 crore so far, grateful for such a chance. Govt toshakhana
- Launched 'Chalo-Taluke' campaign which aims to institutionalize & energize decentralized administration. ‘Sabka saath-Sabka vikas’ each unit of administration will be a driver of growth and also its beneficiary.
- At 10.97%,
- Projects like A daughter, a tree and a teacher…
There are many many more....
Today Narendra Modi has ceased to remain as a mere human being. He has evolved in to a thought process, what we call ‘soch’ in hindi. His philosophy, vision is associated with all the positive thoughts that a normal Indian has for the country. This soch cannot be stopped now by any manipulative bids of the media & ‘intellectuals’ alike.
The point is that it is time to move on , lets not stop at 2002. Let’s accept this man who has single handedly changed the perception of the countrymen. He has instilled a feeling of confidence amongst Indians and that’s why people are, rightly, demanding and hoping to see him as the PM (a young one at 64) in 2014 (though it remains an internal decision of BJP). A man who has proved his acumen at state will prove it once again at the centre stage.
It is time to look upon Modi as an opportunity to take the nation on the fast track towards progress.A strong leader makes the entire world sit up and notice, a strong leader makes the entire country rally behind him and there is no iota of doubt that Modi is indeed the strongest leader in the recent years that India has had.
You can love him or hate him but CAN NOT ignore him. No one can be Modi because a person like Modi doesn’t come across every other day, so I sign off by hoping that 2014 brings in a positive change to the country.
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