The Modi thing: an open letter to NaMo supporters

Dr Mohammad Imtiyaj Khan *

(Photo 1) This campaign banner was seen recently at the entrance of Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Trivandrum


(Photo 2) This newspaper clippings are from an advertisement featured in Trivandrum edition of The Hindu recently

Dear friends,

The BJP has been in the political scene of India since late 50s without much accomplishment in terms of their rule at centre except for the A.B. Vajpayee's Prime Ministership. This is particularly pitiful for them because India is Hindu majority country and they claim to represent Hindu sentiments (?). Among the tactics they used in the past to mobilise Hindus, Babri Masjid demolition is outstanding in terms of its political and social impact. After such a mammoth country-wide mobilisation also, the electoral outcomes have been shying away from majority.

In the wake of such disappointment, party leaders like L. K. Advani have painfully given up the ambition of Prime Ministership and other leaders have burnt down to ashes their ambitions to occupy the most powerful post at the centre. A quick review of the party's more than half century of activities reveals that the reasons for BJP's such a consistent poor show at the Centre have been the absence of a publicly acceptable leader (Mr Vajpayee proved to be one), retrograde manifesto (including Ram Janmabhoomi, Uniform civil code, Hindutva), and a following by largely middle class Hindus only.

However, there is a hopeful crop of leaders such as Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley. On the flip side, these potential candidates lack recognition and record of 'being in a government'. Then, there are others (Dr Raman Singh, Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Vasundhara Raje) who want to be side-actors and keep themselves restricted to state boundaries inspite of multiple terms as Chief Ministers.

BJP's rise

It is really intriguing that BJP has not changed its core policies and election manifestos even after being defeated time and again in general elections. Surprisingly, the turn of events show that the same core values are now accepted widely owing to the new ways and means of spreading those values. There have been many failed propagandas such as love jihad, Islamic terrorism, Islam in general, cow slaughter, etc.

In any point of time, they have always followed two-pronged strategies: to show Islam/Muslims and other minorities in poor light or as anti-nationals and to mobilise Hindus on the grounds of religion/faith. The scams exposed during the UPA II rule has given an unprecedented advantage to BJP and by placing Narendra Modi at the centre stage they are putting all of their weight to harness the emerging anti-congress sentiments.

Among others, the four consecutive terms of Narendra Modi as CM, an incisive campaign (see photo 1), anti-incumbency, and Gujarat's one-sided image of development are the main reasons for front page news generated by BJP in the recent past. Analysts and well wishers observing the Modi thing might consider the recent impressive performance of BJP in Delhi, Rajasthan, M.P., and Chattisgarh assembly elections a positive sign. But, Aam Admi party's jaw-dropping electoral debut has eclipsed the Modi thing.

From the BJP's performance to the AAP's popularity, the line representing the electoral mindset is sketchy, specially because there is the difference of a head and a tail in the style, manifesto and ideology of the two parties. Therefore, whether this 'talking about NaMo/BJP' sentiment could lead to ballots is difficult to gauge.

Resurrecting Gujaratis

The lousiest strategy of BJP to mobilise Indians seems to be the "Statue of Unity". BJP is utilising this initiative to boost Mr Modi's image, which four terms of his CM-ship have not been able to do. It pains me to learn that there was a massive response to the campaign style initiative. Sometimes I wonder why the PM aspirant tries to leverage his image by resurrecting Gujaratis only. A simple lesson for him should be that if there was any 'X' good Gujarati in the past that does not mean any 'Y' Gujarati in the present would be also good.

The desperate aspirant of PM-ship, Mr Modi, is running out of his wit and knowledge. Shiv Khera's decade old motivational speech punchline "Country first" has been borrowed and Gujarat govt's achievements have been claimed by the CM alone. Mr Modi's authoritarian mindset is writ large on every campaign/publicity material (Photo 2). These publicities will surely entice willy-nilly voters, ill-informed and communally inclined voters, and voters from 'de-congressed' and 'congress-betrayed' groups. BJP has had few genuine voters throughout its life, maybe, because of their closed mindset and promises which are misaligned from the modern values.

The recent upsurge in the votes indicates 'Laluvian' victory through Lalu-esque speeches. Lalu Prasad Yadav once said in a campaign speech that the horrible road next to the campaign maidan would be made as smooth as Hema Malini's cheeks if he was voted to power. The public liked his wit, voted him to power but, unfortunately, the road was never smoothened. The only difference in Mr Yadav's speech from that of Mr Modi's is that the former uses popular jokes and the latter uses his poor historical and world knowledge to rake up communal sentiments.

Desperate

At the age of 63, Mr. Modi is very impatient and desperate to be Prime Minister. He is trying everything possible, lest his chance will not come again, to shift to Delhi. In the wake of such a lust for power, it is unsafe for voters to give him mandate to rule us. Owing to strong anti-incumbency sentiment and will and zeal to bring change, Americans voted Barack Obama in 2008. He was hailed as one of the best Presidents of U.S., even a Nobel Prize was hurriedly awarded to him for dubious peaceful initiatives.

However, last year he ordered federal shutdown and American foreign policies have suffered the worst under his regime. Is there a lesson for change-hungry Indian voters in the past 6 years of American politics. An educated good speaker with full of Americanism in mind has failed to upkeep his spirit simply because getting votes do not ensure a good governance.

Ill-informed

Majority of the Modi supporters are power-hungry, ill-informed, and judgmental voters. They have conveniently forgotten that Mr Modi is neither the best politician in Indian history, nor in the present. These supporters never care to know who Mr Manik Sarkar is. For brief introduction, he is Tripura's CM (his fourth term in office) and India's poorest CM. It's said that he does not own a house and his wife goes to work in rickshaw. If Modi's strength is his successive terms in office, then, are we forgetting Mr Jyoti Basu (23 years in office).

Even the lesser known faces like Mr Tarun Gogoi and Mr O. Ibobi Singh have been occupying the post for three consecutive terms. Then, what's Mr. Modi's real strength? Is it self-claimed corruption free governance? Well, have we heard any corruption news about Mr Sarkar. Did anyone say development? Please visit Tamilnadu and Kerala. Anyone who has not visited these two southern states and talk about development really doesn't know what is development. If you compare Gujarat with Bihar, Jharkhand and U.P. to conclude that the former is highly developed, then you are forming an uninformed opinion. Politicians who are genuinely good do not proclaim their achievements to dupe people. They just do their duty.

Empty vessels make noise and unworthy and authoritarian politicians like Mr Modi publicise/advertise themselves. Why Indians are not able to differentiate achiever and proclaimer. One is forced to ask, "where have the thinking Indians gone?".

(Disclaimer: I am not a congress supporter. The views expressed are personal.)