God’s ‘chosen’ Modi and his soldiers

Just a day before he filed his nomination papers on 24 April to contest Varanasi parliamentary seat, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi declared via his hi-cost , hi-tech 3D television broadcast that he had been chosen by God for the difficult job that lies ahead. “God chooses certain people to do the difficult work . I believe God has chosen me for this work. Now I only need your (voters’) blessings.” Only a day earlier he had shared the dais with a fellow godman Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam who called Muslims traitors (“deshdrohis) who will be “taught a lesson” by Modi once he comes to power. Modi will also find a “permanent solution” to problems caused by Indian Muslim mischief makers, besides setting Pakistan right within six months, Kadam thundered. Modi listened to his fellow speaker without any murmur, and only a day later issued a tweet distancing himself from Kadam’s outpouring after belated realisation of the potential embarrassment and public censure of Kadam’s rant against Muslim citizens and voters. In his own god-speak , Modi reeled off his success in advance of election results as he appealed for a big turnout: “ The polls on 232 ( 272?) seats have already decided who is forming the next government . That UPA is losing miserably is a foregone conclusion. So why not vote for a stable government? I urge all of you, especially the fence-sitters, to vote in record numbers.” Aiming even higher, the Gujarat chief minister told his followers that only a stable government could ensure development and so people should ensure BJP gets 300 seats. “A jod-tod (coalition) government, as that of the UPA , has brazenly used the CBI sword to keep itself in majority and save its chair. How can such a government work for the country? Give (us) such a mandate that we can lay the foundation for the next century of development.” The Gujarat strongman also mocked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for indulging in poverty tourism. “ Rahul bhaiya goes for poverty tourism. He goes to villages and meets the poor to see if they have two legs, two hands, two eyes and a stomach. That’s because he has himself never experienced poverty.” For once Modi called Rahul bhaiya ( brother) and not by other names like yuvraj, prince or “shehzada.” A case of amnesia ? Whatever the explanation, amen. Over in Jharkhand, a pair of other BJP stalwarts, ex-national party president Nitin Gadkari and Bihar senior party leader Giriraj Singh had shared a dais in Deogarh area , last week when Modi’s critics were lambasted in unforgettable language. Giriraj went full steam ahead by declaring from the rostrum that those who opposed Modi ji “ have no place in India and should go to Pakistan.” “Woh log Narendra Modi ko rokna chahte hain, woh Pakistan dekh rahe hain. Aane wale dinon mein aise logon ke liye jagah Hindustan mein nahi, Jharkhand mein nahi, parantu Pakistan mein hogi.” (Those who want to stop Narendra Modi are looking to Pakistan for support. In the coming days there won’t be any place for such people in India or in Jharkhand because their place will be in Pakistan.” Conveniently and routinely, but belated, the BJP issued a disclaimer dissociating itself from Giriraj’s remarks. But the damage was done; mischief made; and trouble created. Equally routinely, an FIR was lodged against Giriraj but he remains defiant, despite district deputy commissioner Ameet Kumar’s report saying: I have examined the video-footage of his speech and found that its content was communal anti-national in nature.” All this , however, is par for the course in the current election season which has raised huge question marks about Chief Election Commissioner Mr Sampath’s capacity to control things or take prompt action . Not to be left behind in the race for grabbing news headlines, the inimitable Pravin Togadia of Vishwa Hindu Parishad launched himself into a flaming controversy by supporting Hindu residents of a colony in Bhavnagar opposed to a Muslim buyer of a house in the colony moving into his property and occupying it. In his inflammatory style, the veteran BJP ally is alleged to have asked Hindu residents to take control of the house by force if the owner did not abandon the property within 48 hours. “Take possession of the house and put up a Bajrang Dal board outside... you will not be hanged if you take possession of the house illegally,” he is alleged to have advised his followers, besides making other comments. Ram darbars and chanting of bhajans have been actually performed outside the house as a deterrent to the buyer, Mr Ali Asghar Zaveri. Routinely, yet again, the VHP firebrand has denied making any hate speech and even threatened to sue those spreading rumours. While the election commissioner has asked the district administration to investigate and file an FIR , the ground reality is that the buyer of the house has been effectively prevented from occupying his property even after months of payment and purchase. A shape of promised good governance, if ‘God’s chosen’ man wins? ..........................................................................................................................................................