Syed Kashif,
Narendra Modi has continuously been hurling the hatred which he possesses inherently. Expression of ‘no guilty feeling’ about Gujrat pogrom is not new. He has been proclaiming it for years. In fact, he is correct! Why should a man be ashamed for something which he hatched?
For the moment, suppose he was not the man behind the whole story. Even after this, he cannot escape. Being the CM of the state, he was bound to take responsibility for the whole incidents. But the sad part is that neither had he ever taken responsibility nor he expressed regret. And, the worst thing is that he is still regarded a hero by many!
Projection of Modi as ‘brave’ is dangerously paving the way for communalization of politics. Failure of Indian complex judiciary even after ten years to reach the conclusion, which everyone knows, is certainly encouraging people who aspire to be leader at the cost of communal card. The apparent clean chit to Modi by SIT (although SIT failed to directly indict him, after the SIT submitted report Gujarat High Court took suggestions from an amicus curiae and later directed a CBI enquiry.) has not only given an impetus to push the ‘Modi vagon’ to speed up but also it has shaken the belief of people in judiciary. In addition, Modi has become exemplary for those who want to make a career through communal politics.
The recent comment of Narednra Modi whereby he referred to Gujarat riot victims metaphorically as ‘puppies’ in an interview with the Reuters is again not as shocking from the man who called the 2002 pogrom as reaction to the action (referring to the Godhra train carnage). Political parties in opposition are, however, just taking advantage of such comments for appeasing the minority community.
Rather, such remarks should be seen as an attempt to spread enmity between communities. It spreads hatred among citizen. It divides communities who live together peacefully and amicably. It attacks the communal harmony for which India is known. Any sensible individual of India, regardless of religion, will not consider it appropriate.
Few days ago, Prakash Javedker and other BJP leaders were defending Mr. Modi for calling himself as Hindu Nationalist in the same interview. Though I was not shocked by hearing such fanatic statements and arguments, however, I thought if a Muslim had called himself a Muslim Nationalist he must have been dubbed as anti-national.
India is a secular state. There is no state religion. So, how a man or a woman can call himself/herself Muslim Nationalist or Hindu Nationalist? No nationalism is above the ‘Indian nationalism’. People may have belongings or leaning towards varieties of sentiments. But all else will come later. I think this is an anti- national approach. It is a matter of shame that a man who is being proposed for PM of India is involved in such anti-national activities. Few months back the same Modi had emphasized that ‘India was first’ while he was defining secularism. But now he has turned his back. His religion is more important than India. India is less important for Modi and his fans.
However, by such remarks he is vitiating his own candidature for PM. He is even not fulfilling the expectation of those who have proposed his name. They may be getting irritated by his absurd statements. Or was such statements aimed at appeasing and fortifying the Hindutva vote bank? Only time will tell.
(Syed Kashif is a M.Phil student at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and blogs at http://kashifrazasabri.blogspot.in .)