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Modi is just a better version of his rivals

Although People view with disgust the attempt by politicians to exploit the uttarakhand tragedy, leaders have been following in modi&’s…

Modi is just a better version of his rivals

Although People view with disgust the attempt by politicians to exploit the uttarakhand tragedy, leaders have been following in modi&’s footsteps in visiting uttarkhand amidst pomp and show, writes Rajinder puri
How might the BJP attempt for single-party majority be assessed? Much depends upon how opponents of the party conduct themselves and what strategy they adopt. Until now, Modi&’s poll conduct has been poor. But the conduct of his opponents has been poorer.
Modi erred in undertaking the Uttarakhand rescue mission, thinking it would impress voters. His opponents did worse by emulating him. Rahul Gandhi was ill advised to appear like Modi&’s imitator and visit Uttarakhand by helicopter. The error was compounded by his violating the injunction of Home Minister Shinde debarring VIPs from visiting the area. The damage was accentuated by Digvijay Singh&’s patently false claim that Gandhi had travelled by foot. Opposition leaders and Congressmen from Andhra made Modi look good by openly quarrelling at an airport, trying to claim credit for the so called rescue of victims.
The public is not stupid. People view with disgust the attempt by politicians to politically exploit such a horrendous tragedy. Not one leader had the sense to simply address the Press over television to urge the public to unite and follow the example of the brave armed services personnel risking and losing lives while rescuing victims. People would have approved that.
There are two pitfalls confronting Modi&’s campaign. The first relates to the definition of Hindutva. Hindutva is Hinduism. According to a Supreme Court ruling, it does not denote a religion or a particular community, but a way of life. That is the definition that will be acceptable to the pro-development new generation of voters. Despite reaching out to Muslims and making all kinds of statements, BJP and RSS leaders have not succeeded in changing public perception about their attitude to the minorities. Hindutva will have to relate to Hindustanis and not just Hindus. Hindustanis are conditioned by a way of life. BJP and RSS leaders should know that VHP and Bajrang Dal activists harassing couples on Valentine&’s Day is not included in that way of life.
The second pitfall is even more serious. Its potential to damage the BJP will depend upon how adroitly its opponents exploit it. Modi, egged on by big business and his PR agency, Apco, represents a model of economic development that can be effectively challenged. He represents efficient and rapid economic growth by removal of bureaucratic glitches. In a sense, it is not different from Manmohan Singh&’s model. It merely claims to be more efficient. There is no pretence for inclusion and it rests upon the efficacy of the trickle down effect of economic development. This can be challenged by an alternative model. Sonia Gandhi is attempting to do that, but very incompetently.
The answer to the big business Modi-Apco model is not dishing out doles and subsidies left and right through an inefficient administration, leading to national waste. The answer lies in effectively empowering the disadvantaged to exploit India&’s rich human resource material.
As just one example, not a single party has pledged universal free compulsory education and the eradication of caste-based reservation within the next five years by offering a concrete, credible and achievable roadmap. It is available. But it requires political courage to seize it.
Other examples can be cited. But thus far, no politician or party has displayed the will, the vision or the courage to attempt it. After all, such daring can be attempted only by leaders committed above all else to national interest and not merely to immediate personal political gain.
If Advani and his few loyalists in pursuit of their beliefs were to break away from a Modi-led BJP to help consolidate a Federal Front into a Federation, a stable two-party system would be established in India. The natural polarisation in India is not between an irrelevant Left and Right implanted by the West. It is between the impulses for decentralisation against centralisation. Both impulses have permanent relevance in India.

Concluded

The writer is a veteran journalist and cartoonist. He blogs at www.rajinderpuri.wordpress.com

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