BJP'S BULLFIGHT TO SHIELD NARENDRA MODI
By O P Modi
When bulls fight in a cornfield or a flower garden they are least concerned with
the destruction it would cause to the crop or the flowers. Their only objective
is to get control of the herd and the territory.
A fierce fight is on in the garden of "secularism"; the garden of a hundred
varieties of flowers. It is the land of India; the motherland of over one
billion people of hundreds of faiths and beliefs. The contestants are,
unfortunately, least mindful of the fallout of their battle for ascendancy. They
do not realise that with the destruction of the garden of hundred flowers, this
country will lose its unity and integrity. That orchid where several hundred
varieties of flowers bloom is always more pleasing, appealing, inviting and,
above all, alive and vibrant. Unfortunately, some people in our country do not
think so.
For the last three weeks the nation and the world has been watching, in
amazement, the NDA government's stiff resistance to the opposition's demand for
the dismissal of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi; which they believe is the
only way to bring back peace in Gujarat and restore the minority's confidence in
the country' Constitution.
The media, the Opposition in Parliament, and even the majority of the NDA
constituents have voiced serious concern over the way Modi's government has
handled the communal violence in Gujarat. Almost total, and perhaps
unprecedented, unanimity of both electronic as well as the print media for the
removal of Narendra Modi from the Gujarat scene has not stirred the conscience
of the Centre. What to speak of dismissing Modi, his dealing with the situation
has been persistently supported by New Delhi. Obviously, it is the fear of a
cascading effect on the BJP - led government at the Centre that is preventing
the removal of a failed State Government and imposition of President's rule
there.
Slowly but surely the attention of the world community is turning towards Modi's
Gujarat: which has sullied India's image. The report submitted by the British
high Commission to its government, after a visit to the violence ridden state by
a team of staff, maunders has caused embarrassment to the Indian government.
Former US Ambassador to India Wisner's remarks about American businessmen
thinking twice before investing their money in Gujarat is an indirect indictment
of Narendra Modi for the communal flare - up under his rule. Whatever goodwill
India had earned by its restraint in dealing with Pakistani aggression in Kargil
and the cross - border terrorism, is being washed away with adverse reporting by
the embassies of several countries to their governments.
The Economic Times says: " Rising tension may divert investment to other
nations". It says that the three international credit rating agencies, Fitch
Ratings, Standard & Poor and Moody's, have expressed serious concern over the "
rising political and social tensions and regional and religious conflicts" in
the country. In their opinion this could impede the economic and social
development, distract policy makers from economic priorities and hinder direct
foreign investments in the country.
After six days of pandemonium in Parliament the censure motion against the
Government has been admitted by Deputy Speaker P M Syed. In his ruling Mr. Syed
said "the Gujarat situation cannot be considered as an ordinary law and order
matter, which is the concern of the State Government only". It certainly
concerns the entire nation. From the very beginning it was clear that in Gujarat
a situation was developing that would injure the secular polity of the country.
The genuine fear of a communal flare - up and the apprehension that Narendra
Modi was totally unfit to control the marauding mobs became apparent in a few
days after Godhra carnage. The warnings sounded by the observations of the
National Human Rights Commission, the National Minorities Commission's report
and the observations of independent women activists of "national repute",
besides the daily reporting by the media of horrendous killings, arson and rapes
have fallen flat on the NDA Government.
Even Prime Minister Vajpayee, just after a couple of days of Godhra tragedy, had
himself described the attack on the minority community in Gujarat as a "Kalank'
on the fair name of India. Sadly, he was unable to take prompt action to stem
the rising wave of genocide in the State under Naraendra Modi. Atal's personnel
visit to Gujarat and his highly emotional speech before the gatherings of the
minority community in the refugee camps proved to be just a lip service. His
advice to Modi, that he should discharge his duty of "Rajdharma" was
reciprocated with the remark by the CM that it was "his Rajdharma" that he was
already performing.
In the first week of May there is going to be a discussion in the Parliament on
the issue of Gujarat and Narendra Modi's failure in handling of the continuing
violence in the state. Possibility of voting permitted under Rule 184 is not
ruled out. The real test of the NDA constituents' loyalty to the ideal of
secularism is approaching now. The debate itself and the result of the voting
will show who stands where.
However, the BJP's reluctance in dumping Narendra Modi in good time is going to
cost the party too heavily. I think BJP has made grave miscalculations - which
may prove fatal for the future of the party- by allowing Narendra Modi to
continue in office. It is becoming clear that Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee has acted against his own wisdom in dealing with the Gujarat communal
disaster. His recent poem wherein he describes himself as a lone person not
finding anyone of his own among his people, speaks volumes about his
helplessness. His statement that he was prepared to give up the chair but was
there anyone who could take over as the Prime Minister of the country, shows as
to how much he himself is concerned about the future of the nation.
People are puzzled over the dire contradictions in some of the recent statements
of Prime Minister Vajpayee. He seems to be torn between his own judgment and
that of his party's pressure in dealing with Narendra Modi. The BJP leadership
should realise that it has done great disservice not only to its own party, but
also to the nation by not removing Modi promptly from the seat of power in
Gujarat. However, they will not have to wait for long to see the result of their
blunder. -CNF