No person seems to have dominated Gujarat politics as much as Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the last one decade. In case he wins this 2007 election, where fifty-fifty chances appear after the voting on 11 and 16 December, what will be the ‘Modis’ effect on national politics viz-a-viz BJP and if he fails, how the Congress and BJP will turnaround their politicking in India; a debate every political analyst and media portal is genuinely trying to explore.
We argue that after the 2002 Gujarat it is not LK Advani but Narendra Bhai Modi who is the formidable icon for Hindutva politics in India. His defeat or win in the recent Gujarat election will mean beyond Gujarat. Modi’s win will mean — he will be a strong contender for the post of PM in next ten years or at least a very strong key-maker within BJP, without whose green signal it will be virtually difficult for BJP to move ahead. And this is what made a visible break within BJP in Gujarat as well as in New Delhi before the Gujarat election. BJP’s uncalled for announcement for Mr. Advani, from anti Modi camp, as Prime Ministerial candidate few hours before Gujarat election means some within the BJP are sure that if Modi wins it will be impossible for them to bring Advani on top who already lost Hindutva charm after Jinnah saga. .
As is his strategy, Modi talks about economic development— ‘vibrant Gujarat’ but when the right time clicks he shifts his beans of development to the favorite agenda Hindutva— communalism. To justify the killing of Sohrabuddin in his election campaign speech is one example of the nature that has generated a national controversy.
Current Gujarat elections, irrespective of its result, will remain etched in the memory of the nation for wrong reasons. Gujarat witnessed the burning of Sabarmati express at Godhra in Feb 2002. The carnage which followed this train accident claimed the lives of thousands of innocents and simultaneously polarized Gujarat along religious lines. The process of ghettotisation of Muslims and the fear of minorities constructed in the minds of majority community are staring in some Gujarati faces. At the same time the threads of democratic nationalism, national integration are breaking rapidly. The consequent of polarization led to the victory of the leader of the carnage back to power in the elections which took place within a year. In the 2002 elections, the main opposition party, Congress did not gather strength to take on Modi with full vigor.
During last two and a half decades the rise of right wing politics has taken place on the pretext of Hinduism, while it has nothing to do with the humane streams of Hinduism. It claims to be for Hindus, while majority of Hindus have also become victim of this intimidating politics. It reflects the state of erosion of our democratic norms and gradual strengthening of the forces which do talk about democracy but are deeply wedded to the RSS, the organization which is opposed to interfaith harmony and true democracy. The concept of Hindu nation is for Hindus is just a pretext. It essentially aims to abolish the values of liberty, equality and fraternity of Indian pluralistic society. In Gujarat, one can clearly make out that there is a slow but dangerous march towards a fascist state.
The Tehelka sting showed some of the perpetrators boasting about their crimes in front of the camera, and this made most of the people realize once again the gravity of the crime. It was in this background, we guess, that Sonia Gandhi in her election campaign called Modi as ‘the merchant of death’. Mr. Modi realized that the truth is being said after all, and tried to raise the communal sentiments high by justifying the extra judicial killing of Sohrabuddin, who was killed in a fake encounter by his police. He was keeping the communal card, under wraps till the word ‘merchant of death’ was hurled upon him.
All this sounds so unusual but we are becoming used to the prevalence of these things. Who knows, spats like ‘merchant of death’ and ‘Hindu terrorism’ from the Congress may backfire them. It might have already spoiled the political chemistry for the Congress and the BJP ultimately made up the loss caused by its own internal revolt.
If Nerandra Modi fails— Congress comes into ruling in Gujarat, the party may go for early poll in the center cashing on the Nandigram incidence against the Left. The Left’s threat to withdraw support from the UPA on N-deal will have no effect and it, later or sooner, will be practical. And above all the Hindutva politics in India will have thumbs-down for a while until a new ‘Babri Masjid’ is rediscovered somewhere in UP, MP or Delhi.
By M. Burhanuddin Qasmi
The author M. Burhanuddin Qasmi is Director of Mumbai based institution ‘Markazul Ma’arif Education & Research Centre and Editor ‘Eastern Crescent’. He can be reached at manager@markazulmaarif.org
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said that ruling Congress did not indulge in vote bank politics. Talking to reporters Gogoi said that there is simply no question of vote bank politics. Criticizing AGP and BJP, he said that the illegal immigrants are not the only problem to be dealt with. He claimed that only the Congress government would be able to complete work on the photo-IDs of voters.
Governor Janaki Ballav Patnaik and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi have greeted the people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha on Saturday.
In his message, Patnaik appealed for upholding the tradition of amity and communal harmony in the state and urged the people to strengthen the bond of fraternity so that anti-social elements do not create any dent in their peaceful co-existence.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Eid would spread the message of universal brotherhood, love, peace and sacrifice would further strengthen the bond among the people.
Curfew in Dhubri town has been relaxed on Friday two days after it was imposed following clashes between police and civilians. There is no report of fresh incident in view of Eid-ul-Zoha on Saturday. Shops, markets, offices and banks remained open during the curfew relaxation period. However, educational institutions were closed because of Durga Puja vacation.
In view of the festival, security measures have been augmented in vulnerable areas. Curfew was imposed in the district headquarters after three persons were injured in clashes between two groups in IG road area in this town.
Dispur would soon set up a commission to study the issue of unemployment in the State. It would also suggest measures to eradicate the problem. Disclosing this, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Commission will comprise experts and besides studying the problem of unemployment in Assam, it will also suggest ways to solve it. The Commission’s report will be out by Bohag Bihu. The Commission will further look at the steps taken by the Government during the past decade to deal with unemployment and success and failure of various schemes.
A 5-day-long celebration of North East is going to be held at Dilli Haat, New Delhi on November 1-5. Titled as "Traffic Jam” the event is around the theme of community and unity. During these days, the event will bring people together around issues that break down community. There will be a special focus on Human Trafficking and in view of recent happenings also on discrimination towards the North East.
The festival will feature two event evenings (November 2nd and 3rd). Both evenings will be an assortment of music, live painting, cultural dances, and street theatre performances interspersed with short talks and presentations. The impact of the festival will be furthered...
In what could be described as a highly-encouraging news for Indian children’s cinema, a script that takes a look at the issue of witch hunting as seen by a small Assamese kid has found itself to be the only non-European project chosen for the co-production market of Cinekid, the world’s largest film, TV and cross-media festival for children.
Adapted from acclaimed Assamese writer Manikuntala Bhattacharjya’s children’s novel “Ishu” by National Award-winning film critic Utpal Borpujari, the script, also titled “Ishu”, is among the 15 film projects chosen to be presented before a high-profile panel of co-producers, distributors and sales agents...
Assam chief minister, Tarun Gogoi on Saturday released the white paper on the implementation of the Assam Accord saying that foreingers are no longer a huge problem to be dealt with. Gogoi claims with facts and figures that influx was on the decline. According to him, immigration was one of the issues like education, health and unemployment. He said that state will start the process for giving voters identity card after the completion final electoral roll.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday visited the porous Indo-Bangladesh border in Dhubri district on Saturday. Shinde visited the Shishumara and Mohamayachar border areas by a BSF boat to take stock of the unabeted influx from across the border. He inspected the eastern flanks accompanied by senior officials of the Home Ministry and Border Security Force. Earlier, he landed in Guwahati in the morning from Delhi on a day-long visit and took off in a helicopter to the BSF border camp in Panbari near Dhubri.
One more rhino was found dead on Saturday a week after its horn was sawed away by poachers in Kaziranga National Park. The rhino was believed to have been shot at by poachers at Agoratoli range of the Park and its horn was removed on October 13.
Amid Durga puja festivities, a shoot out rocked Guwahati city on Friday where a person lost his live at the hands of a miscreant.The incident took place at Chatribari area where an armed miscreant shot dead a person when he tried to overpower the miscreant. Identified as Brajen Rajbanshi, the victim was rushed to the hospital but died on the way to it. Police officials rushed to the spot and the miscreant manage to flee from the spot.
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