Tuesday, 20 September 2011 23:17 Pioneer comment
Narendra Modi is committed to social harmony
The importance of the three-day fast undertaken by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to launch his Government’s ‘Sadbhavana Mission’ would be lost only on those who are either unutored in mass politics or bent upon giving a sinister spin to the most well-intentioned gesture, in this case to forge social unity and harmony. Mr Modi’s popularity in Gujarat, demonstrated conclusively over two successive Assembly elections, was never in dispute, nor were his organisational skills ever doubted. Hence, it was only to be expected that his fast would fetch a tremendous response in the State which he straddles like a giant. Yet, it was refreshing to see a large number of Muslims, representing every Islamic sect in that State, enthusiastically joining the ‘Sadbhavana Mission’. By itself, that was not really surprising — the vast majority of Muslims, like Hindus, want to live in peace and prosper, which can only be guaranteed if relations between the two communities are stable and free of mutual suspicion and recrimination. What made the presence of Muslims at the venue of Mr Modi’s fast significant was the fact that they were there on their own volition — and, they were not squeamish about being seen with a leader who has been vilified and defamed by an agenda-driven sanctimonious ‘secular’ commentariat. Since these Muslims live in Gujarat, they are aware of the ground situation and the work done by Mr Modi far better than the so-called pundits in our national media who tend to be tendentious. It is an established fact that Muslims are far better off in Mr Modi’s Gujarat than they are in the bastions of our ‘secular’ parties, especially the Congress. But these and other facts are wasted on critics of Mr Modi who long ago ceased to be fair and have since become blind to reality. They failed to report Mr Modi’s success in driving home the message of fraternity among all communities; they were prompt to report how Mr Modi refused to wear a skull cap, as if that was a measure of his commitment to secularism.
Ever since the communal violence of 2002, which followed the carnage at Godhra where coach S-6 of Sabarmati Express, packed with Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya, was doused with petrol and set on fire by a Muslim mob, Mr Modi has been targetted by his political foes, especially the Congress, and their Left-liberal fellow travellers in the media who have sought to pin the blame on him. Those efforts have now been rendered meaningless. More importantly, Gujarat has moved on and emerged as the best administered State in the country with an awesome record of rapid development that has benefited every section of society, irrespective of caste and faith. Mr Modi wanted to highlight this point and consolidate the gains of the past decade through his innovative programme of social harmony. His message was not lost on the people. Second, the event brought together all the senior leaders of the BJP and most of its allies on a common platform for a lofty cause. That message, too, was equally powerful: The party stands united and the NDA remains both strong and a viable alternative to the UPA. Sadly, these positive factors were glossed over by those determined to malign both the BJP and Mr Modi. That’s a pity and a shame because facts no longer seem to be sacred.
Courtesy : Pioneer
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