|
Who will join the Main Narendra Modi Hoo chorus?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mahatma Gandhi did it, Sardar Patel did it and recently even Anna Hazare did it. So why Modi should be left behind? Fasting is always good. Period. Be it for health, be it for making your opponents kowtow or be it for asocial change, everyone loves a good fast.But the three-day sarkari fast of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is differentin it that it aims at an image make-over. From communal to communal harmony. It will take a few days to determine what Modi achieved fromthe fast which is likely to cost the exchequer a sum of Rs 5 cr to Rs 10 cr.But it’s a good idea to skip meals and get so much of prime time on newschannels for free - maybe as a gift for 63rd birthday which falls onSeptember 17! Besides, cutting down calories is a great idea to stay fit for alonger political career ahead! Now we know why you are fasting Mr Modi! And this unique birthday bash has got the cash registersringing at the five-star check-ins. The airport is going to be too crowded forthe common people with all the charters. The grand, air-conditionedconvention centre is now out of bounds formany event organizers who had it booked in advance. The babus have foundsomething to stay busy during the weekend. The Bollywood celebs and thebusiness honchos from Mumbai will have to skip socialite engagements as theywant to express solidarity with Modi.
Article continues below the advertisement...
What Modi certainly stands to gain is the precious nationalattention. He knows the art of staying in news. Seasoned in holding big ticketevents PR team is working overtime to ensure he gets as much of prime time asAnna did – be it in news or debates. But will it win the same respect for himas Anna did? The stated goal of the fast is to reach out to the muslimsand bury the communal identity. His very very abrasive and arrogant postureagainst his critics is unlikely to change. Muslims, at least some sections, maynot be averse to build a functional rapport to end many a miseries andisolation and insecurity. But will that mean he is forgiven? “If he hasn’t apologized how can we forgive him?” said amuslim youngster. That exactly is the issue – no one has heard any apologycoming from the CMO over the riots. And a little observation from the pastsuggests that its unlikely to come. “He has been projected as a strong person jo jhukta nahi hai. His arrogance willbe his strength,” this is what Arun Jaitley had observed a decade back in aneditor’s cabin. An apology has to be felt and driven from within, it cant bejust spelt out for benefits. But if its not even spelt out, its an apology ofan apology. Can Modi – though elected democratically - ever resist thetemptation of not chasing his critics and thus respecting their democraticrights to not like him? Can he give dignified existence, education and moreimportantly social acceptance to millions of muslims who live in ghettoes and feelwobbly when they step out? Most of the people outside Gujarat have a very reverentialview of Modi – as a giver of good roads, wealth, great development, flourishingbusinesses, safety for women etc. But its an insult of 6 crore Gujaratis to sayall this is thanks to one person. India please note that, Gujarat was notexactly in the dark ages before Modi.
|
|
Copyright permission mandatory to republish this article. For reprint rights click here
More posts by Shyam Parekh:
Your responses to many of the comments are very unsatisfactory. I don't think many get the point you are making - I don't. More importantly you have not responded to the accusation that you and the media and NGos face in general: Why are all of u picking on Modi and not the others? I have been in Bombay for 24 yrs of my life & have witnessed a few communal riots, all under Cong rule. This was during the times when Dawood was in town and all cosy with Sharad Pawar and at logger heads with Shiv Sena. It was a power struggle. What happened to the Shri Krishna Commission? Who questions the Shiv Sena or the Cong? Why this selectiveness?
Is majority of the media at the highest level on Cong payroll? Isn't it is very obvious with the various TV Channels, especially the way many of them went after Anna hazare?
Isn't that how Rajdeep Sardesai, Barkha Dutt & Teesta land up with Padma Shris, by going after Modi? People who falsify evidence & who should be in jail for perjury still get invited on TV shows! They still have credibility left? Whould anyone want a Padma Shri after this! It's not just Gujarat who depends on Modi, there is a whole industry that seems to depend on him!
Or could it also be that most journalist don't have the courage to sound different as that would appear to be politically incorrect in the highly biased (purchased) media?
Yes, Modi is autocratic & needs to loosen up & take himself less seriously. I don't think he is ready for PM yet. I wouldn't trust him with total power, he could be another Indira Gandhi or might be not. But he is still the best bet we have. He is the need of the hour and he understands that and is playing his cards well. Now do we take the gamble with him? That's the real question.
I feel sorry for writers like Shyam.
Shyam used term 'anarchy' below. Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and now we know Rahul Gandhi alias Raul Vinci. Is this not anarchy ? One man party isnt it ????
what happens to the the kashmiri pandits after the india's division??? what about the sikhs masaccre initiated by the congress? WHt u know about the response given by Rajiv gandhi on the sikhs masaccre??
what is ur openion about the cheap polititrics of congress? whats ur opinion about the special consideration on jammu and kashmir? what is ur response about the huge wealth of Nehru family??
just lookup the past and make the sensitive judgements do far.....
By jatinder kumar Sep 19, 2011 Modi is also responsible for plight of Bangladeshi muslims living in Gettos in Bangladesh. Modi is responsible for Muslim in flood affected pakistan not having food. Although these countries have muslim govt, still US congress is praising Modi for development. "Sajish" againt bechare muslims. Also there is only one state in India where muslims are in majority and have muslim Govt, J&K.Let us know if you want similar situation of minorities in Gujrat as that of minorities in J&K. First set up a better rule somewhere else then question modi.
By Ramanathan Sep 18, 2011 This is the same opinion I see in media for a long time, but as a commoner I hear a totally different story from the people from that state. They treat him with high regards unlike most of us treat our respective leaders. I agree that there may a mistake done by him in not controlling the riots effectively, which politician has not done mistakes? But he has a lot of plus points, which the media has denied him by not focussing on them and it is an injustice done by media. It looks like the media is just taking revenge on Modi.
So you do not like Modi and want him to apolagise because there are "allegations"?
we majority hindus feel outcast from this country.the rule of a foreigner one pseudo secular media that talks about godhra for ages but will sit silent about the kashmir pundits massacre...narendra modi for many of us is a hero.and btw he was not given a clean chit by the CBI...he was given by the supreme court...so it must be true!!
I may be wrong but the article seems more like a paid news to me. The pseudo secularists will never want this country to be one but anyways I am sure these people who has gone bankrupt with ideas will perish one day. Amen!
I m surprised by your response to some of your critics of the Blog... Here you are targeting one man for his follies... And accusing him of everything under the Sun...
As per YOUR statement - "Can Modi – though elected democratically - ever resist the temptation of not chasing his critics and thus respecting their democratic rights to not like him?"
You asked a question but you answered your critics in a very negative and kind of manner, Which seemed more like you are chastising them for Criticizing you.
When you responded to Sameer's Critic of your Blog by saying - "But I am duty bound not to hold my tongue or pen! This is democracy" It suggested you did not take Sameer's views lightly and had to counter him.
So as per your attitude it seems people like you view Democracy as per you deem right and suits you.
I think time has come for you to retrospect your attitude and then comment on others.
you are obsessed with what we call "chit bhi mera pat bhi mera" syndrome. Don't give credit to a person if he does a good thing and grab every opportunity to blast him as much as you like, if he does a bad thing.In both way , it is you who are the winner, not the article that you tried to write because it lacks objectivity and impartiality. In absence of them, it looks simply a propaganda. you can not be a good journalist .
By Ramesh Natesh Sep 18, 2011 Mr Parekh, why would you want Mr. Modi to apologize ? Because you and your ilk think he is complicit in the 2002 riots ? Its amusing that dime and dozen people such as you talk tall, have nothing to show for in your achievements. If you were so wise, you would have done half of the good work Modi has done for this nation. How did you and your ilk, paragons of justice, come to the conclusion when the courts have yet not pronounced the verdict. If at all, the courts are struggling to pass a verdict against him. You belong to the 'tolerant' breed of Indians so why such intolerance and haste in coming to a conclusion ? Your ilk has been shifting the goal posts. First your ilk said Modi will be defeated by the people. That didn't happen, then you people said he will be punished by the courts, that possibility is looking bleak now (sure, lets wait) now, frustrated, you think you can sully a man with your poison pen without a shred of evidence to back your assertions ? Mr Parekh, some of us have dignified your writing, undeservedly so, by our response. Thank god for it, and if before speaking again, ask yourself, what have you done for the country that Modi has done and stop tattling lies about Modi. If you have evidence, present it else hold your horses till the court gives its verdict.
By s.devadas shenoy calicut. Sep 18, 2011 modi is celebrating his 61st birth day on 17th and not 63rd as mentioned in the article.to your question about giving degnified existance to muslims,their culture also should coordinate with the system.are they prepard for that.
Modi has done wonders no doubt about it.
make sure that you right facts accurately ....not 63 years.....only 61...correct you facts please
Just like every other Journalist you also seem to be obsessed with writing negative about Modi. Can you tell what is your source of 5 cr or 10 cr being the cost to exchequer? And this cost is not because of Modi but because of some funded NGO's and some news channels always running a negative agenda against him. If you are really worried about the loss of tax money- tomorrow morning 18th sep write a blog on why did Sonia Gandhi decide to hire a charter and go to USA for whatever surgery? I am sure the cost of all of them flying regularly for that treatment for last two months would be appreciably higher that whatever the cost of this fast. Also if we compare two good CM's in Modi and Nitish Kumar why is it that Modi is being labeled communal, even Nitish Kumar is worried for votes of a certain community. Do you then also label him or lets say Mayawati or Lalu or Mulayam or Digvijay as communal? As you mentioned in one of your comments that someone would have to be critical rather than just celebrating positives. I would wait to see a blog criticizing any of these from you in next couple of days. Just because Modi Sells, dont write anything to gain publicity.
By Rohitkumar Sep 18, 2011 Nice to see your gentle and to-the-point responses to the comments. Please write more often.
By Anil Agrawal Sep 18, 2011 Why Shah Commission inquiring into Emergency was abolished after India Gandhi came to power again in 1980? Were the sins washed away?
Probably the apologies are in order for the Godhra train burning incident or doesnt that come in the agenda - of the counter fast of the congress ????
It's ironic that Modi recieves such disproportionate press, when in all fairness, congress never recieves any such enquiry into the gory details of the sikh riots. it was not in pre historic ages, but a recent occurence. congress never apologized for a good 2 decades, and the one we got was not too sure whether it was an apology at all. the riot victims were totally forgotten however.
no such luxuries to modi. he gets scrutinized for every single passing moment by journalists of all hues and varied interests. I haven't seen even 5% journalists talking about sikh riots, while everyone seems to make sure that they take up this topic at least once in their journalistic life!
I agree with writer on one it would be an insult to all the Gujratis to give all the credit to Narendra Modi for its developement. I would also like to see actual figures of so called development and compare with other states like TN and Maharastra. Besides thouh he cut the red tapism but last thing we want is a dictator leading our country.
MODITVA MOTIVA MODITVA....AND JUSTICE FOR BHARAT MATA....ONLY MODIJI CAN LEAD INDIA..HE IS THE GREATEST OF THE GREATEST...AND HE BE THE PM VERY SOON...EVERYBODY ELSE ARE NOTHING BUT CHAMCAS...
It seems you are not from Gujarat. First, you should experience rather feel the difference. The infra, Safety etc. I agreed that Modi don't do magic but he did what is supposed to be done.
For you also, by more highlighting the other side of Modi will give more footage. Anyway, it's time for Congress (particularly in Gujarat) to do something positive rather then finding fault in Modi. For any party the mantra of winning People and Vote has to be Development only. Propaganda may be different for Party/Person to Party/Person.
By Arjun Karve Sep 17, 2011 The author symbolises what is wrong with India. He would rather tolerate a weak, ineffective, effeminate PM, but cannot accept a proud Indian as a PM. Who cares for what Muslims think anyway. Indira Gandhi, an arch secularists, once remarked, "I don't need Muslim votes," One hopes that the Hindu majority realises that secularism is nothing but pandering of minorities and votes en masse for Modi!
By K.Venugopal Sep 17, 2011 Those who set fire to a pilgrim train in Godhra are responsible for the Gujarat violence and the Congress, which supported them, are responsible for corruption and terrorism in this country. Under Narendra Modi's leadership, Gujarat has become a model of economic development and social unity. He deserves to be supported and the Godhra terrorists and their supporters condemned!
Cannot Say good word for no body, even all the gods can come to earth, still people like you will degrade and shoot them, thats how gandhi is gone, and so do Jesus.
Learn my friend to hold the Tongue and If you can provide positive aspect of the person, let me see how much you got it that skill.
Shyam Parekh says:
I respect your view. But I am dutibound not to hold my tongue or pen! This democracy will disappear if everyone just celebrates 'positivity' and keeps shut. BTW Jesus and Gandhi went not because of questions raised but because of lack of it. Someone never questioned the wrong ideologies and philosophies of the day which then led to disasters. Had someone dared to question it then, probably our history would have bene different.
Even before Modi became CM, Gujarat was under BJP rule. All states where BJP has ruled for a fair bit of time are well off. Congress not interested in development but interested in sucking money Bofors, 2G(167000 crores), Common Wealth (70000 crores) + Complete financial Mismanagement of Economy Eg. Speculation allowed in essentail commodities (MCX)
Shyam Parekh says:
Agreed. In a democracy we need two strong parties to keep check on each other. Any one of them becoming too strong and setting its own agenda rather than what people want, casues imbalance of power. A strong and politically focused on development kind of oppostion - BJP had the madnate to do that but they chose the rathyatras and ram mandirs - would have been the right pill for India's problems.
Do you apologize for something u didn't do it? that is the exact scenario here. Did all muslims apologized for what they did? Godhra Train fire? terror attacks?
Did he go and kill someone? If someone wants to do it something then can anybody stop that? Is congress able to stop terrorist attacks? Are they apologizing evreyday for terrorist attacks?
Shyam Parekh says:
If that is the case why should one make an attempt for building Sadbhavna? Leaders ought to lead and not follow the directionless masses. In that case there will be only anarchy.
if you want someone to read your cr_p, at least use some spell checker .. what is this :
sayall , flourishingbusinesses, moreimportantly,
pastsuggests, muslimsand .. everyline hasatleastone, betternotwriteatall.
Shyam Parekh says:
Good sense of humour! I agree with what you say. Something went wrong in the formatting. Will take care.thanks. keep reading DNA.
|
|
|
Comments
Share this article
Print
Email
