By: Karan Thapar Date: May 11, 2024 Published in: *The Wire* Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaqEX-OVDt0 *Note*: The transcript is embedded in the source
"In an interview to discuss and analyze the often bizarre and inexplicable things said by Prime Minister Modi in his election speeches, Sunanda K. Datta-Ray, a former Editor of The Statesman, has said Modi is 'an unashamed showman … a great actor' who makes 'dramatic statements for the moment'. He said the Prime Minister’s response to Sam Pitroda’s claim that south Indians resemble Africans – which the Prime Minister called a *badi gaali *– suggests 'a frog in a well' attitude to the outside world. He said the Prime Minister looks upon Muslims as 'outsiders, not belonging to India, not bhumiputras'. Mr. Datta-Ray said the Prime Minister’s speeches are 'appealing to voters at the lowest common denominator'. He said they are 'an unabashed appeal to gut instinct'. At another point he said the Prime Minister is 'pandering to the instinct of the majority of Indians who are Hindus'. Asked by The Wire in a 23-minute interview whether he has ever heard earlier prime ministers make speeches attacking Muslims, casting aspersions on top industrialists by name and objecting to being considered similar to Africans, Mr. Datta-Ray replied with a blunt 'no', agreeing this was 'a low point'. Mr. Datta-Ray also said honour demands that Adani and Ambani should take legal action against the Prime Minister for claiming they are in possession of and purveyors of black money and *chori ka maal.* 'It is for them to take action against the PM legally in the courts'. I am only giving you the main big points made by Mr. Datta-Ray. There is a substantial discussion of Mr. Modi’s claim that Adani and Ambani have sent tempo-loads of black money and *chori ka maal* to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party. There’s also a discussion of Mr. Modi’s claim that Congress wants to decide the membership of the Indian cricket team on the basis of religion. Similarly, there’s a discussion about Mr. Modi’s reference to Indian Muslims as people 'who have more children' and 'infiltrators' as well as his claim that reservations meant for SCs, STs and OBCs will be snatched and given to Muslims. I will leave you to see all of that from the interview itself."
