I am no admirer of Mr Narendra Modi; no administration can be condoned for what happened in 2002. But however controversial Mr Modi might be, what cannot be wished away is the attention he gets wherever he goes.
His ardent supporters have already anointed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi the next Prime Minister, two years before general elections are due. Their desperate hope is that the UPA Government will mess up the affairs of the country so badly that some of its key allies will pull the plug making midterm polls a fait accompli.
But there is no getting away from the immense polarising power of the Gujarat strongman. Last week yet again, those who came into close contact with him have been sucked into the eye of the storm.
The first one to get the marching orders for even daring to interview Mr Modi for his Urdu daily Nai Duniya is Samajwadi Party’s Shahid Siddiqui. In that famous interview with the tagline “Hang me if I am guilty”, for the first time in a decade, Mr Modi fielded sustained questioning on the 2002 Gujarat riots. Till now, he has either stormed out of television interviews or refused to grant interviews to print journalists who wanted to question him on the post Godhra carnage.
Calibrated media moves
The Gujarat Chief Minister is too seasoned a politician to grant a no-holds-barred interview without weighing in minute detail the consequences. For, Mr Modi’s media managers ensure that the occasional interviews he does give are based on questions given in advance and the request is entertained only if the journalist wants to discuss Gujarat’s model of development.
Honourable exceptions are, of course, magazines like the American weekly Time which recently dealt the Congress party the double-whammy of featuring Mr Modi on its cover in March 2012 with the headline “Modi means Business”, and following it up with another recent cover that called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “The Underachiever”. Of course the article on Mr Modi made all the right noises, in an apparent effort to “balance” the story, by calling him India’s “most polarising politician”, evoking the ghosts of the 2002 carnage, and related stuff.
But the message that cannot be missed is an international magazine like Time taking note of Mr Modi’s capacity to deliver, while hauling the Indian Prime Minister over the coals for his failure to do so.
So if Mr Siddiqui got away with an interview where he could pose questions on the 2002 riots, it was not because of his journalistic capability, but because he is a Muslim, and that too from a political outfit like the Samajwadi Party, which proudly wears the label of being pro-Muslim. Foolishly enough, the SP has shown him the door for interviewing Mr Modi.
Yoga guru’s endorsement
Close on the heels of this development came Baba Ramdev’s endorsement of Mr Modi for being non-corrupt. Sharing a platform with the Gujarat Chief Minister in Ahmedabad recently, an expansive Baba Ramdev said he saw no corruption in Gujarat. But what was much more difficult for the Congress to digest was one of its own Rajya Sabha MPs — Mr Vijay Darda — sharing the same dais and heaping praise on the BJP icon. “Modi’s commitment and dedication to work bear resemblance to a lion’s”, thundered Mr Darda, who too has some business interests, including a media house.
After initial hiccups, Team Anna, on yet another fast at the moment, has been careful to shun any communal colour. It has squarely criticised Baba Ramdev’s praise of Mr Modi. While one team member, Sanjay Singh, called Modi a “murderer of humanity”, Arvind Kejriwal was more guarded in his response when interviewed by TV channels. He refused to give Mr Modi any certificates for being non-corrupt and said that his government’s refusal to sanction permission for the prosecution of Fisheries Minister, Mr P. Solanki, for an alleged Rs 400-crore scam in the grant of fishing licences, pointed a finger at the presence of corruption in Gujarat.
Waves in Japan
But however controversial Mr Modi might remain in India, raising a huge question mark over the NDA allies accepting him as their prime ministerial candidate, if and when that happens, what cannot be wished away is the attention he gets wherever he goes. Take his recent visit to Japan, for instance. And this barely a couple of days after the brutal killing of a Maruti HR executive and assault on several others by workers at the Maruti Suzuki plant in Manesar. Amidst speculation that high on his agenda in the Japan trip were discussions with the Suzuki bosses to coax them to shift the entire operations of Maruti Suzuki from Haryana to Gujarat, he was hailed in the Japanese media as a “strong leader” who not only encouraged investment in his State, but also ensured the physical safety of all those who worked there!
Wooing Japanese investment, Mr Modi made all the right speeches on how Gujarat’s entrepreneurial skills and peaceful and non-violent work culture, combined with Japan’s technology and discipline, could create an industrial miracle. During his five-day visit, he is said to have attended 65 business functions and met around 2,000 executives in five cities.
I am no admirer of Mr Modi; no administration can be condoned for what happened in 2002. And, in my head, the jury is still out on whether the much-touted development of Gujarat has been inclusive, taking under its wings not only the Muslim business community of Gujarat, which is already singing hosannas to their Chief Minister, but also the larger chunk of the less literate and, hence, scarcely employable poor Muslims.
But what cannot be denied, even after giving due weightage to his brilliant media management, is that you’d be hard-pressed to find one Congress or UPA chief minister who can display such energy, charisma and magnetism, not to mention intellectual rigour. Among Indian chief ministers, one who, perhaps, comes close to Mr Narendra Modi is Bihar’s Nitish Kumar.
That their style of functioning, the scale of arrogance or humility they display, and the secular or communal labels they wear, are so drastically different, is exactly what will make the battle for India’s next prime minister so interesting in 2014, or earlier.
Now I am ready to face blows for being pro-Modi, a new experience for me!
Responses to rasheeda@thehindu.co.in and blfeedback@thehindu.co.in
Comments:
Contest between Modi and Nitish so what happened to your super secu-liber icon, Rasheedaji? poor Pappulal PopatG written off?
A good article, although could have been better articulated. The point of less educated marginal Muslims in Gujarat getting jobs - 25% Muslim population in West Bengal has fewer than 2% jobs in Govt, which has been ruled by "Sickular" leftists for over 25 years! Modi doesn't treat anyone as a vote bank, whereas all the other politicians in India (including Nitish Kumar) identify Muslims only as a Vote Bank. Being herded as a vote bank is the bane of Muslims. Commn, you are npt a minority anymore! almost 20% of India, and should walk shoulder to shoulder and hand-in-hand to better build India.
Modi is best suited to head India now. Even though Congress has been in power at centre for more than eight years, they have not been able to get Modi convicted in a single case so far. Then why all the talk of accusing him of collaborating with post-Godhra riots.
To quote Rajiv Gandhi "Earth is bound to shake when a big banyan tree falls", almost condoning post Indira Gandhi-assassination riots in which 2000 Sikhs were killed. Does that mean Rajiv and his family at power now are ineligible? Many cases on post-Godhra riots, as well as the Godhra-train-burning massacre case, in which about 50 Hindu pilgrims were burnt to death, have ended-up in convictions by the Modi government's prosecution team. May I know the number of people who got convicted in the 1984 riots, after which Rajiv got in to power with a huge majority?
Dear RASHEEDA,
Your article is genuinely & honestly written.
Yesterday was unfortunate and can not be undo, but tomorrow is in our hand and we should let it shine.
Thank you,
Hemant
I am a reader of Hindu news paper for the last 10 years.This is for the first time i saw one article which carries some positive remarks about Shri. Narendra Modi.Whatever his critics say ,a common view is growing among the Indians irrespective of their social status that Gujarat CM is a 'No.Nonsense'leader who can create miracles in the realm of development.
Atleast you dared to write!
Does Ms.Bhagat remember the history? who started 2002 riots?does she
has any comments about them?their attitude?mindset?I guess bearing
same first name & religion as those jerks it is too much to expect
unbiased opinion.
I never saw this much analysis done for the ever silent Sonia or Rahul Gandhi. How many interviews have they given? How come noone questions that??
MODI is controversial only in the eyes of the Media who would like to keep in controversial. For Indians, he is a Hero, we can only dream of India developing like Gujarat is ..
While I held Modi administration responsible for lack of forceful action during 2002
Gujarat riots, I also held the whole nation equally responsible for the tacit approval.
If the nation was indeed horrified, the riots could not have lasted as long as they did.
But this is 2012, 10 years since the riots. Modi has changed with the time. I have
grudgingly come around in praising him by what I hear and read about Gujarat. May
be 2002 was a life changing lesson for him. People do learn, grow and change. Since
2002 no one has found a single action or speech of Modi objectionable. So let us all
keep an open mind and look ahead rather than backwards.
While we could all bash the Guj govt and its leadership for the 2002 riots, there is no harm in analysing objectively the various aspects of performance and personality. In fact, it is only fanatcis (albeit of another ideology) who would refuse to discuss subjects objectively.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading your article. :) love it. Need Modi to get India back to its rightful position at the top of the world and pull millions out of poverty and illiteracy.
Even the redoubtable Churchill was rejected by the people despite his yeoman contribution to the war effort. Why? Because the people, were perhaps looking for change, for a new leadership in times of peace. It is just the same with Modi. A political leader's achievements pale into insignificance, if democratic values and institutions have been abused along the way - is the nation ready to absolve Mrs Gandhi of the emergency?
The other relevant point to observe is this - so many police officers, the ex-Home Minister and so many citizens are facing charges or have been convicted and sentenced to heinous offences under Modi's watch. Would you like to work with a leader, who swears about his own clean character, remains unaccountable but his colleagues are incarcerated? Let's not agonise whether Modi is guilty in the eyes of the law. He is accountable. And for that, we need a change. The people must ease him out as Churchill was and so was an Indira Gandhi.
Author is questioning whether much touted growth is inclusive? In other words, she is questioning the growth of Gujarat because she is not sure whether minority community benefited from it or not.
Let me explain. Narendra Modi treats are Gujaratis as Gujaraties and Indians. He does not get into vote bank politics. He addresses all the Gujaraties as Gujaraties all the time. Now,Let us discuss inclusive growth, when entire states gets electricity 24/7, all the people get benefited. Transport and road infrastructure does benefit all people regardless of cast, creed and religion. New educational institutions and universities benefit all of those who want to pursue higher education. New industrial growth increases the jobs that do have labels as Hindu jobs or Muslim jobs. Internet connectivity in the entire state benefit all the residents of state. Is this not INCLUSIVE GROWTH???
Modi deserves a chance, he has proved it repeadtedly. I request media to be neutral towards him, not biased, atleast for this country's sake.
It is increasingly fashionable to do modibashing among journalists and you are no cexception
pl spend some quality time in any part of gujarat then you will appreciate what he has done
to people of Gujarat be agriculture, industry or trade
What happened in Gujarat in 2002 was a very sad and horrid taint on our
Country.But I feel it has been happening for many years,who can forget
Moradabad in 1980/81, even Delhi 1984,the blot of Babri Masjid.
If Mr.Modi is the BJP PM candidate for 2014 and they are duly elected by
the people of India,he should most naturally be allowed to do his job.
Who knows the effective and dedicated way he has ruled Gujarat,may also
be done for India.
Congrss Govt is responsible for most of the happenings in to day. They practice divide and rule. Hence if there is a huge gap between Hindus and Muslims, Congress is responsible. Under the present condition, where Inflate is record high, Food prices are beyond the reach of common man, corruption at highest level, we have to make Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. We have not heard any Muslim is witch hunted in his Rule ( after 2002)and in fact they are more prosperous to day. Only thing is they are afraid to tell in public.
Thanks for the good articles.
For our country to develop economically we require strong leadership, for
that matter Mr. Modi is the best choice as of now.
Why don't you write about the Congress rules in your neighboring state Kerala, where the teachers were asked to wear green dress for a function where Congress is just a spectator, while Kerala Congress & Muslim league rule the state.
With this kind of affairs happening there will never be a secular Indian.
Even the most secular Hindu will become fanatic with minority appeasement under Congress rule...!
Narendra Modi is by far one of the most efficient and best administrators India has ever produced.He has ensured a sustained
growth of above 10% for Gujarat.I have been to Gujarat and it would be
naive to call the development lopsided or non inclusive.Modi has
ensured that benefits of development reach all sections by plugging leakages in welfare schemes.He has made Gujarat a power surplus
state.India would realize its full potential if Narendra Modi becomes
the next Prime Minister.Thank God you have realized that Rahul Gandhi
stands no chance against this man.Modi is now appreciated even in farthest corners of India.Only Nitish Kumar comes closer to him
My friend who has gone to Gujarat regularly and who has contacts with Muslim businessmen staunchily says that the muslims of gujarat have all praise for Modi's administration.My friend is a staunch atheist and against Hindu/other religious practices.I believe this unbeliever more than the million english media journalists!!
Dear RasheedaJi, Thanks for your baby steps towards truth. ModiJi has
been denied all the opportunities by SICKulars & anti nationals in
this country who see their vested interests going for a toss after he
comes to power as PM. When u have CONgrOss leaders like Sonia &
CHEATambaram who cant think beyond their family, people will naturally
start looking for options in leaders like ModiJi, who has this whole
country as his family. If he was guilty of anything dont you think
that 8 years is long enough of CONgrOss to hang him? Inspite of all
mud attacks anti Modi SICKularists and communists couldnt prove
anything against him. The nation is more awakened and the sign is his
biggest detractors have also started taking positive note of him. He
has proven himself beyond the doubt. No one in ConGross even comes
close to his style of functioning. He is a no nonsense leader who
believes in betterment of whole India & not interested in playing vote
bank politics. This worries old Indian thugs
Dear Rasheed, Congrats for your brave effort. Until people like start
speaking out what you felt the pseudo secularist will always keep this
country & Minority communities under developed, less educated. Many more
people like you should come forward and voice the right thing for Minorities. In 2002 communal violence many Congress leaders were involved, Paid Media Houses doesn't cover this when the minority people
in Gujarat speak about this.
I will be damn surprised if you are still on the roles of The
"Communist"u when I open the papers tomorrow! I could see Main Stream
Media slowly reducing its apartheid towards Modi (TimesNow had a
programme on Is it fair to punish those who praise Modi). Hope good
sense prevails on the media, and the masses to elect the most
deserving person to chair the PM post!
BTW, the comparison with Nitish Kumar is quite "cliche"! I am not sure
if he deserves as much credit as one gives! I can think of several
other CMs who are probably better qualified than Nitish - Jayalalitha,
Raman Singh, Sheila Dixit, Parrikar, Omar Abdullah - whose track
record on development is stellar!
Ms.Bhagat is pathetic. Unless she appropriately puts in the standard 'secular'
caveat about, 'how much she dislikes NaMo and abhors the 2002 riots', this
article would never been allowed on the website.
It begs the question, does she or if this publication requires that she put in the
same caveat about 'how much she dislikes Rajiv Gandhi and abhors 1984 anti-
Sikhs riots' when she does a story about Congress or Rahul Gandhi ?
Double standards, eh ?
Madam Rasheeda good attempt by you writing for HINDU.The only place or state what ever you media people would want to call it ,where there is LIGHT IN INDIA IS IN "GUJARAT". Over 20 states in darkness.The only state where there is NO RIOT, CURFEW, TOTAL HARMONY, NO POWERCUTS ACKNOWLEDGED EVEN BY ''WALL STREET JOURNAL NOW."
ALL THIS WITHIN 10YRS.Lets presume narendrabhai was not c.m of gujarat,perhaps you would have been happier & so too the entire media.,tv channels, activists, ngos etc.
madam pl dont compare NARENDRABHAI WITH nitesh or anyone else.
INDIA IS REALISING THAT SHRI MODIJI IS GODS GIFT TO INDIA, PERHAPS MEDIA WOULD TAKE LONGER TO REALISE, BUT THANK GOD PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE CHANGING.
We are also not admirers of Mr.Narendra Modi-the honourable CM of
Gujarat but we began to respect him because of love towards his
people and development approach of Gujarat.
We also feel that UPA Govt.will mess up the affairs of the Country
badly.The recent corrupt practices seen in the dealings of Common
Wealth Games,Spectrum affairsAdarsh Flat affairs and dealings of
valuable Natural resources of the Country and the complete
silence of the concerened Ministers generats fear in people like us
and in Public. A negative and unconcerend approach of the authorities
leads us to fear and uncertainty .Public appears to be dissatisfied
and they are in a dilemma.
Fear and helpless ness among general public are visible every where..
We pray God to keep our Nation Strong and prosperous.
A Group Of Senior Cityzens....
PS We love Gujarat because we cant see Gujarati labourers here.. only
from Chennai, Bihar, Bengal,Odisha, UP, MP
I have read many articles you have written in The Hindu and i really enjoy them. The title "The Many Faces of Modi" is appropriate to all politicians and political Parties. Secondly you admit you are anti modi when you say Now I am ready to face blows for being pro-Modi, a new experience for me. It was a new experience to me when i read this article!
I think your article should not be read as Pro Modi or anti Modi
because one should criticise what happened in 2002 and at the same
time praise good Governence. When you dont do this then one can call
him Pro or anti. One bad event cannot take all the good one is doing
and at the same time few good things you do does not mean you can do a
few bad things.
Whether Modi is involved or not,Courts will decide;whether Modi has
done good work for Gujarat, people of Gujarat will decide in the
elections
People in all fields are slowing realising and are trying to forget
the past similarly to Emergency, Delhi Riots, 2G corruption.
Admirer Nagaraj
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