Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Gujarat Election - A Referendum on Moditva?

I watched the Big Fight on NDTV on the coming Gujarat elections – moditva or hindutva, I think was the issue. What appalled and distressed me absolutely was the open support given to Modi by a section of Gujaratis, apparently well educated and affluent.

They seemed to be enamoured of the man, his personality. But - - the values that a person represents – isn’t that a part of his personaliy? is this admiration for Modi extended to the pogrom he engineered? or is it precisely on account of it?

They seemed content that there is a congenial atmosphere for industrial investment and activity. But wasn’t that always there in Gujarat? Is it something new brought in by Modi?


They seemed blissfully happy about the Peace Modi has brought into Gujarat. Peace for whom? all sections of the population? peace at what cost? – at the cost of blatant violation and supression of human rights of a certain community? peace violently brought into the state by politics of exclusion?

They are either hoodwinked or pretend to be hoodwinked by the development card played so cleverly by their CM to hang on to power to complete the job begun during post Godra riots. Surely no one can be so blind that they cannot to see that Modi only uses development as a cover for communal politics?

Barkha Dutts said aloud what we fear - that the coming elections in Gujarat is a referendum on Moditva and that a favourable outcome could signal Modi’s yatra to Delhi. Are we Indians going to hand over the charge of this nation to a person who pooh poohs democratic values? who has loudly dedcalred that India belongs to one community alone? and has shown himself to be a ruthless ethnic cleanser? Will this nation dociley succumb to the slaughter of civilized politics?

8 comments:

  1. We Indians, as a whole, are slowly becoming politically impotent and this impotency is a soil rich enough for thorny plant like Modi to spread its roots deep and wide. Did the revelation of Tarun Tejpal’s hidden cameras have any impact on our combined conscience? Except Karan Thapar made Modi drink some water! Only a few days back Modi justified the killing of a man. Sonia Gandhi called him a trader of death and that’s it! Everybody else kept quiet… because vote. Has anybody seen a pack of invertebrates called DYFI? They have reserved their voice for Che and Chaves only……! And we common people, nose-dived into consumerism and globalisation, have more attractive things like star singer and other soaps to discuss about. Even among these bloggers, Gujarat and Modi are a no-issue! Let the devils dance…….!!

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  2. The communal carnage happened in 2002 is indeed deplorable. Do you know why Modi(and people like him) get the continued support of people(me included)? Its because of the very poor definition of secularism in the country. When politicians of the so called 'secular' parties stop openly supporting terrorist just because they belong to aparticular community, things might change. Believe me national security is very important for a country like ours. If you don't know, there are places in thiruvananthapuram which has posters supporting Osama(I have seen it, its not from a newspaper). It is unthinkable in Gujarat, such a place will be dealt with immediately by the administration. Modi is really the lesser of the 2 evils. The nation is more important than the votebank that a community provide.

    Also, I would like to know your opinion about Rajiv Gandhi(and his comments during the sikh riots) and WB chief minister's comments during the nandigram incident. Do you have the guts to write aginst them? Or are you one of those 'secular' persons?

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  3. Hi,

    Do you really think he is going to win @ delhi?

    Frankly though, I see his mercurial rise as a folly of the other parties than his own charisma (of course the latter has a part of play too)

    With communists doing as they are always do in WB and congress more interested in appeasing the minority ( there are sings of change with youth brigade ...dont know if they are true) you cant really blame the modi supporters. can you?

    There is no truly "secular" choice so they are choosing what suits them.....

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  4. i agree with all of u that it's vote bank politics that has brought discredit on the ideology of secularism.
    @biju elikattoor. yes. this is what left theorists always warned us about. excessive consumerism causes the human mind to be caught up in the mire of materialistic preoccuoations that they become impervious to the terrible evils that permeate society.
    @ abhilash
    oh yes. i have the guts to condemn the sikh riots and basu b's remarks-it only requires as much guts as u need to condemn modi. have a qualification tho- i have guts to do it only in my blogs. in the print media? no.

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  5. Abhilash & Anonymous,

    I was not talking about secularism nor any ideology but humanity, which must be the essence of all our civilization so far. Secularism has lost its spirit and is just like any other political jargon, which politicians of this country often use for their livelihood.

    Whether in Gujarat, Nandigram, Assam, Muthanga, Delhi, Bihar, Afghanistan, Iraq, Dafur, or wherever, it is HUMANITY that becomes martyr! Two traits differ human beings from beast - Humanity and Greed. Sadly, with all our civilization, most often greed takes the upper hand when we happen to interact with fellow beings or creatures on this planet. Beast kills only to kill its hunger. Have we ever heard a lion killed two animals at a time? Never…….never. It kills only one animal at a time not only to feed itself but other scavenger animals/birds can also feed on the left-over. That is the law of nature. But we humans, never satisfied with heaps of wealth, a fraction of which is hardly required for subsistence, are seldom ashamed of depriving fellow beings from their basic sustenance and causing irreparable damage to the environment. What I am trying to say is that, in a broader perspective, greed is the underlying trait that forces us to think on the basis of class, colour, creed, religion, nationality, etc.

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  6. What is a goverment's job??
    1. Security
    2. Economical development
    3. Social Development & integrity

    These are major responsibilities of goverment..
    Every goverment should be tested based on that responsiblities..

    1. security - Modi did great job in making Gujarat secure. Only one death in five years due to terrorism...

    Do any congress goverment reflect this data??... NO..
    Congress fails on security issue...
    Cause their minority appeasement policies...Afzal guru is example..
    No to POTA..another one..

    2. Economical development:- Modi did great job in this...everybody agrees to it..even his critics also..
    Do congress reflect same progress?? NO...why not?? Look at the congress governed states..

    3. Social development & integrity:- In this parameter Modi equals congress. Congress win votes by doing minority appeasement and Modi is doing based on Hindutva..
    No difference...Both need votes...
    Afzal not hanged cause congress wants to appease muslims...but they dont care about died soldiers...who are hindus..
    Modi cares about dead hindus burnt in train..but he dont care about muslims burnt...or killed by staged encounter..
    Even congress is not going to address this issue cause in that case they will lose votes of Hindus..
    So, in this case both dont care about justice...both care about votes...
    Even congress come to power, no justice innocent muslims gonna get...Apply your logical mind...they are not going to do cause they want to win after five years too...
    So, both congress and modi are guilty..

    So in this race, Modi is 2-0 ahead..
    Another question is.. what is Congress development plan?? They dont have even plan for development except shouting slogans against Modi....Only one plan they have right now...say opposite to whatever Modi says...
    They show golden picture to ppl of Gujarat but dont show how they gonna achieve it...while Modi already did it...

    IF ppl of Gujarat slightly care about development, peace and integrity...they have to vote Modi..
    There is no other option...at least Modi is having plan. I will consider congress if they show any plans..for development...

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  7. @dharmesh patel
    dont get me wrong. am no great congress fan. all i am saying is when human lives and dignity are sacrificed at the alter of ideology and politics, all thinking sitizens ahould pause and do some soul searching - and speak thru the ballots. only then democracy becomes an salutory, effective mode of governance and of ensuring equity.
    you have suggested the lesser of the two evils. no. that's not the answer. we should be thinking of options. like a fractured majority which will put brakes on such decisions that caused the post genocide killings. no government can justify that. godra is the mesdeed of miscreants. what happened is state engineered.
    for a lesson from history, kerala was spared the atrocities of the emergency 'cos a coalition govt. was in place during that period. so much so, to a large extent, the state enjoyed only the benefits of the emergency. no wonder congress govt. was reelected, and stray incidents (like the rajan case) was seriously taken up.
    we citizens should rise above political affiliations and ideologies (be it those of congress,left or extreme right) so that our ancient indian value of respecting life will be perpetuated in this nation.
    hard core pragmatism sometimes blinds us to fundamental, indispesable human values.
    by the way, i still havent got that definition for the term 'integrity' when used in reference to modi.

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  8. Dont look at this issue based on ideal circumstances...
    If you do soul search...none of the party should be in power...
    we are talking about lesser evils here...and thats pragmatic view of looking at situation...
    Lets assume that Modi is culprit, and should not be voted, then we vote congress...they don't have any plans for security, development and so called "social integrity" except minority appeasement plans...
    So, we will get rid of Modi but we force state to poverty, insecurity and social devisions, based on cast , religion, sex etc....
    And whom we should blame afterwards if there is terrorist attack based on not having security plans by congress...TERRORISTS...
    Oh...God..now you blame terrorists..Do something about it...
    You cant blame Pakistan for every single attack happening in India...even they are doing... your security plans are failing miserably..
    Only ppl of India should be blamed for that...if they dont elect right person..thats ppl's job...security is in their own hand...they should elect right government who will protect them..
    If there is no economical progress based on not having any plans by congress..poverty rises..unemployment rises...so crime rate...Bihar is example...
    Whom to blame?? Lalu Prasad Yadav...
    NO...ppl of Bihar...They should stand firm and elect government which provide them employment...and lift them from poverty...

    Use logic and apply mind, common sense is required over here..

    Providing electricity to 18000 villages...is not a joke...Its massive work...Modi did it...

    Preventing state from terrorist attacks..is also not a joke...Modi did it...single death due to terrorism...

    If congress promise to do same..I am willing to vote for them...but they just need votes based on riots...then sorry...I cant even consider them..

    I cant replace Evil for lesser Evil...
    To just get rid of Modi based on riots...is not right...cause congress do the same...

    And here I am wondering how many ppl commenting are from Gujarat??
    And how many been to Gujarat??
    How many been there during riots??
    How many have seen roads and developments??

    Gujarat has been changed under Modi's regime...roads are widening...water to deserts...good investments...good security...low crime rate...

    Why ppl are not comparing Gujarat with congress led state??

    Women can roam around in Gujarat at midnight without fear...can you say same for Delhi?? NO...
    Except Bombay, Pune & Banglore...you cant have that kind of freedom in whole India...Only Gujarat is having that freedom....

    I am not hardcore Hindu..who is voting based on Hindutva concept...
    I am voting Modi...cause he did great job and should be elected based on his job...
    He is powerful...determined and corruption free (Hard quality in politician)

    His brother still lives in village and still teacher in school...tell me single CM whose brother is having simple job...

    Dont try to be too perfect...cause nobody is perfect...yes...i feel sometimes Modi is arrogant..using Hindutva...sometimes against Muslims...but his good qualities are overpowering his bad qualities...

    He is kind of leader...India need...Strong, determined, focused...He even dont care about his image...

    He reminds me Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel...another...great leader from Gujarat...he did everything for India...and was more popular than Nehru...but because Muslims didnt like him...our Great Gandhi told him to step down..and Nehru became our PM. First PM of india is not based on democracy but based on selection...what a pity??
    Sardar got majority votes..Nehru got only two..but Nehru became PM...The first mistake of free India...And then we had Indira, Rahul Gandhi...Sonia Gandhi...Rahul Gandhi...Priyanka Gandhi...their sons & daughters to rule over India..Isnt it a shame???

    India is free but still ruled by Gandhi dynasty...there is no...absolutely no leader in whole country...who is capable of becoming president of Congress...
    There is nobody from India...I mean whole India...who can challenge Sonia for president of congress....Kya India ki dharti me itna bhi dum nahi hai ki sirf ek leader de...congress ke president ke liye...

    Sometimes I think and laugh on our pity...And you want to talk about our culture...CULTURE?? what culture???
    Wake up...Think...This place where Ram born...krishna born...budhdha born...vivekanand born...Dr. abdul kalam born....cant you provide single leader....It doesnt matter whether he/she is Muslim or Hindu or Christian...but should be Indian...

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