Roland Francis wrote: To an outsider looking in like me, there is very little difference between the Congress and BJP or for that matter any other Indian political party or politician.
They are either personally corrupt or allow unbridled corruption to flourish around them. If they are not inefficient in their personal responsibilities they allow inefficiencies in their cabinet and their government ad infinitum. The only exception to all this in my humble opinion is Narendra Modi although he carries a huge communal burden on his shoulders. If he makes a sincere mea culpa to Gujarat's muslims and follows that up with even more sincere acts to India's minorities in the future or at least treats them other Indians, then he has much to offer the country compared to any one else aspiring to the prime minister's gaddi (throne). In any case he is the PM that India is crying out for now, after the duo of Sonia and Manmohan has made it the laughing stock of both Indians and others. More importantly before the point of no return has been reached with the (absence of) trust of Aam Aadmi which is absolutely important for its well-being. Response: It is indeed a sad day for the country and for those who value humanity, values and ethics in public life when educated, sensible and balanced people start thinking on these lines. One has to admit that Modi's PR Firm Apco Worldwide (refer to the foll article for a list of its infamous clients) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/specials/Modis-image-builders-have-dictators-on-client-list/articleshow/2600140.cms has done a great job of whitewashing all his misdemeanours and portraying the image of a go-getter person even though his track record in Gujarat on the development front leaves much to be desired. Refer: http://thepristinecanvas.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-report-card-of-namo.html?m=1 On the governance front, no Lok Ayukta was appointed for over 10 years and so no corruption charges could be filed or investigated. And when the Governor appointed one, Modi fought the appointment tooth and nail going in appeal right upto the Supreme Court where he lost his case. Subsequently, he amended the Lok Ayukta Act and made it a puppet of the govt. and appointed his favourite person as Lok Pal. His lack of respect for women and subversion of state machinery is well documented in the recent snoopgate scandal.Refer: http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?288623 His knowledge of India is pathetic. He has no clue about the history or geography or even the culture or diversity of the country. Juxtapose this with our past PM's and you will understand the difference. Refer: http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment/karanthapar/oops-modi-s-done-it-again/article1-1149288.aspx http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?288539 In July 2013 I had occasion to post the foll on Goanet: Quote: 2. regarding the subversion of justice in Gujarat, are you aware that over 10 cases including the famous Best Bakery and Bilkis Bano case were shifted out of Gujarat by the SC because of the derailment of justice by the Gujarat govt. Are you aware that senior police and IAS officials who did not toe Modi's line have been hounded, superceded and victimised for carrying out their responsibilities? Are you aware that the SC has time and again passed severe strictures against the Gujarat govt for trying to derail justice? Are you aware that a senior member of Modi's cabinet has been sentenced to Life imprisonment for her role in the violence? Are you aware that Haren Pandhya, the Home Minister in Modi's government who testified before a Citizens Tribunal, Modi's role in the violence was shot dead and that his widow and father hold Modi responsible? Are you aware that a number of senior IPS Police officials have been arrested and are being prosecuted for extra-judicial kllings under the watch of Amit Shah and Modi? Here are some extracts from the media on Modi's role: Quote: The Supreme Court's amicus curiae in the Zakia Jafri case concluded that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi can be proceeded against for various offences during the 2002 riots, including promoting enmity among different groups. The amicus was of the view that in itself Mr. Modi's alleged statement was an offence under the law and he could be prosecuted under various Sections of the IPC: “In my opinion, the offences which can be made out against Shri Modi, at this prima facie stage, are offences, inter alia, under Sections 153 A (1) (a) & (b) (statements promoting enmity between communities), 153B(1) (c) (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national interest), 166 (public servant disobeying a direction of the law with intent to cause injury) and 505 (2) (statements conducing to public mischief) of the IPC http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/proceed-against-modi-for-gujarat-riots-amicus/article3393808.ece In a scathing indictment of the Modi Government, the Gujarat High Court had on February 8 termed the 2002 riots as “negligence of the State” and censured it for “inaction”, holding that it had resulted in an “anarchic” situation. The court passed strictures against the Government while ordering it to pay for the restoration of 500 odd religious structures destroyed during the riots on a petition by Islamic Relief Committee of Gujarat. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/government-and-policy/gujarat-hc-issues-contempt-notice-to-modi-govt-in-2002-riots-case/article2895933.ece In a major blow to the Narendra Modi government, the Gujarat High Court today censured it for "inaction and negligence" during the 2002 post-Godhra riots, holding that this had resulted in an "anarchic" situation. Passing strictures against the state government, the court said, "Gujarat Government's inadequate response and inaction (to contain the riots) resulted in an anarchic situation which continued unabated for days on". http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1647366/report-gujarat-riots-modi-s-inaction-resulted-in-anarchic-situation-says-hc *"Muslims are repeating history. Their main aim is not to destroy maximum possible Hindu Temples, but to destroy Hindu Religion and Hindu culture and to rape Hindu ladies ... If Hindus won't awake with these incidents, Hindu religion and Hindu culture would be finished ... Hindu Youth, now it is time to test your courage and strength. Prepare bombs, Dharias, Sticks, prepare bows to throw burning missiles. Leave defensive policy and attack now. Arise to avenge insult to our temples and ladies, and rush to Muslim areas with weapons and finish them."* THOSE FAMILIAR with the highly charged communal rhetoric of the *Sangh Parivar* will find nothing startling or new in the above quote. The reason for its recall is to illustrate that its genesis shares little with Godhra 2002 and its bloody aftermath, though the sentiment evoked is very much part of the *jihadi* Hindutva prescribed by the *Sangh Parivar* and its affiliates. These lines, in fact, are taken from a leaflet titled "Awake Hindus — Awake Youths," distributed by the Hindu Sangram Samiti during and after the communal riots in Gujarat in September 1969. Despite a long history of communal riots in Gujarat, why is it, then, that Narendra Modi and his Government have come to represent the most diabolical form of communalism in independent India's history? The difference Jan Breman, the sociologist, writing in April 2002, succinctly describes the distinctiveness of the riots of February-March 2002: "In Spring 2002, the religious cleansing operation has been more severe, larger in scale and longer lasting than on earlier occasions, mainly because the state apparatus — both the leading political party and government agencies — condoned or even facilitated the pogrom, rather than stopped it, while it was taking place in late February and early March." More than two years after the Godhra incident and the riots that followed, a process of making the State Government and *Sangh Parivar* politicians accountable has ensued, entirely as a result of the tenacity of civil and human rights groups, NGOs, and, most significantly, the Supreme Court of India. Court strictures In the context of the Best Bakery and Bilkis Bano cases, the highest court in the land gave significant and trendsetting judgments in individual cases. The Court's strictures against the Modi Government were marked by an unprecedented severity, where the Judges called the Gujarat Government a bunch of "modern day Neros," who were guilty of looking elsewhere when "Best Bakery and innocent children and helpless women were burning." But the April 12, 2004 judgment went a step further. It also commented on how the "modern day Neros" were "probably deliberating how the perpetrators of the crime can be protected." Almost five months later, the Supreme Court has tightened the noose around those who were protecting the perpetrators of the crime as well as those who were protected till now. The August 17 judgment of the apex court is singularly significant for imputing collective responsibility on the entire State Government machinery, the criminal investigation department and the lower courts for allowing summary dismissal of more than half of the 4256 cases registered during and after the riots, and asking for a reinvestigation of all such cases. The political implications of the August 17 judgment are far-reaching. Scores of Bharatiya Janata Party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal leaders and activists are accused of active involvement in arson, murder and instigating riots. The State Government machinery, till recently, went the proverbial extra mile to protect them. Reopening more than 2000 cases makes those implicated vulnerable. Without assured protection, a depletion in the BJP's political base and a resultant demoralisation among its cadres is inevitable. Their ire is bound to turn against Mr. Modi, whose alleged sanction was the very basis for their involvement. Mr. Modi's woes have been compounded by simmering dissidence against him and growing dissatisfaction among farmers, notably led by the RSS affiliate, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh. BJP's dilemma The BJP, however, faces a dilemma. The Supreme Court has inaugurated a process of restoration of the rule of law in Gujarat that has now assumed an independent momentum. Removing Mr. Modi is no longer a guarantee for deflecting the Court's gaze from the systematic derailment of all norms of justice and law. Retaining Mr. Modi, on the other hand, will help alienate the cadres even further from the party's leadership. Sources within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh suggest that it was, indeed, in favour of Mr. Modi's removal, only to be thwarted by Atal Bihari Vajpayee's outburst against the Gujarat Chief Minister in Manali, with the unintended consequence of giving him a fresh lease of life in power. Whether he stays or goes, Mr. Modi has become the BJP's biggest political liability. Various testimonies to the judicial commission probing Godhra and its aftermath have only increased the discomfiture of the Modi Government. Senior police officials have directly hinted at the complicity of politicians and senior police officials in aiding and abetting the riots. With a hostile Central Government, a determined Supreme Court, and an unforgiving set of liberal activists pitted against it, the Modi Government will find trampling upon the rule of law and every norm of civil society difficult in the days and weeks ahead. http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/22/stories/2004082200621400.htm Unquote And here is an entire issue of Telelka devoted to the violence in Gujarat. http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main35.asp?filename=Ne031107Live_updates.asp Is such a man fit and proper to lead this nation? Unquote: http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2013-June/232067.html http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main35.asp?filename=Ne031107gujrat_sec.asp Regards, Marshall
