Chake de Gujarat: Jeetaga aadangavada

Slogans are clearly divided. In the run up to the assembly election in Gujarat, the two main opposition parties, BJP and Congress are shouting against each other in a full throat way. Congress says “Chake de Gujarat” and the BJP shouts “Jeetaga Gujarat”. Naturally this kind of sloganeering is normal for political parties during elections. Those too in a red hot political state like Gujarat. If elections were held along with parliamentary elections or with many state assemblies, the focus on Gujarat may not have not been this massive. Unfortunately or fortunately Gujarat assembly election is held along with a small state, Himachal Pradesh. In this free for all situation, every one focuses his/her attention on Gujarat. Apart from the state assembly election which is generally irrelevant to the national mainstream parties, the singular focus on Narendra Modi makes everyone to eye on Gujarat.

With the state on the political boil for the past seven years roll coasting development with communal violence and natural disasters, the entire national focus or even global attention falls on Narendra Modi’s Gujarat. Knowingly well his odd situation, Modi decided to talk less and not to react to the provocations from opponents. Having clearly set his agenda to win the election, Modi was on the path of victory. He bombarded his critics with his achievements on the development front. As the anti-Modi gangs cannot take him on the welfare front, communal agenda is clearly the weapon used against to defeat Modi in the electoral battle.

Having repeatedly told his critics that he wanted to fight this election solely on the slogan of development for all these past few weeks, finally Modi fell to the conspiracies of his opponents. In a public meeting in Mangrol, Modi fired his first bullet which is twisted as the provocation of communal violence. This one cry of his critics is enough for the election commission and the judiciary to disqualify him from the electoral battle. The constitutional provisions if applied vaguely can prevent Modi from the electoral process for next six years. But a careful scrutiny of Modi’s Q & A session with Mangrol rally attendants show that he engaged the public without giving any legal loophole. But he harvested his political crop heavily. Sample his method

Congress is saying Modi got (Sohrabuddin’s) encounter done--- What should have been done (to Sohrabuddin)? [Crowd roars ‘kill him’]

Well, then that is it. Do I have to take Sonia Gandhi’s permission to do this?
Source: Hindustan Times, 7 December 2007, P.1

Although his public rally interaction is not a communal provocation constitutionally speaking, it is a contradiction from the position taken by the Gujarat government counsel in the Supreme Court in Sohrabuddin case. While arguing for the case, K.T.S. Tulsi had claimed that Sohrabuddin was not killed in an engineered encounter. But Modi’s view in Mangrol was different. This may impact the case but not prevent him from the electoral fry in Mani Nagar.

With the pre election predictions pointing t towards the victory of Modi once gain in the assembly elections, his opponents are leaving no stone unturned to continue to strategize to defeat him. Sonia Gandhi called him as a “Merchant of death” and Dig Vijay Singh, Congress general Secretary branded Modi as the breeder of Hindu terrorists. If these provocations were left out as mere political mudslinging, why should the election commission apply constitutions provisions selectively on Modi’s reactions? If the law is to be applied it should be applied to everyone. In that case there would not be any single politician left out in the country to carry forward the great Indian democracy which is full of theatrics.

In short, accusations and counter accusations are common in politics. The election commission of India is much matured body with the intelligence to apply when and what. It does not need some fake intellectuals and page 3 personalities to refrain communally motivating and dividing politicians.