The cover page of the Time’s magazine with the portrait of Modi donned in a black Nehru coat with a saffron scarf was published on May 9, 2019. The article carried a compelling title which read as ‘INDIA’S DIVIDER IN CHIEF’. Shortly after it was published, it evoked widespread criticisms from the ruling party especially on Twitter with bots and fake handles of the ruling party making a scathing attack on the author as well as the magazine. But it managed to strike a chord with the many who have had enough with the supreme leader who absolutely had no remorse for the 2002 Godhra carnage and the incidents thereafter.
The BJP, a far right extremist party rose to power in 2014 riding on the waves of Modi and again in 2019 banking on pseudo-nationalism after the Balakot airstrike was conducted discreetly. Mr. Modi, the man solely responsible for the pogrom while he was still the Chief Minister of Gujarat was denied visa by the United States barring him from entering the country in 2005 for failing to thwart let alone condemn the 2002 incident.
The Godhra incident was a state-sponsored terrorism where the Muslims were selectively targeted, maimed, lynched and killed brutally. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party which was in ruling at the state incited and instigated the Hindu fanatics and right wing fringe elements to launch assault on the Muslims. The entire state-machinery was unleashed to aid the rioters to carry out the attack without any hindrance. Rajdeep Sardesai of India today in his book 'How Modi won India, 2019' writes, (quote) 'Senior Gujarat journalist Rajiv Shah tells a story that perhaps best epitomizes the darker aspects of the Amit Shah persona. In mid-March 2002, barely weeks after the communal riots in which more than a thousand people lost their lives, Rajiv bumped into Shah as he was coming out of the chief minister’s office in Gandhinagar. Concerned about the spiraling violence, Rajiv opened up an informal conversation. ‘Why don’t you take the initiative to bring the communities together in Ahmedabad, especially in your Sarkhej constituency?’ he asked Shah. Sarkhej has a large Muslim population, most of which lives in the ghetto-like suburb of Juhapura. A series of mini-riots over the years had created an informal ‘border’ between the Hindu and Muslim dominated areas in the constituency. ‘Why are you so concerned over the rioting?’ was Shah’s sharp response. Rajiv was surprised by the reaction from the public representative but then explained that he had an apartment in Sarkhej and was anxious as violence still simmered in the region. ‘If you take the initiative and bring Hindu and Muslim leaders on one platform, I am sure the area will become tension-free,’ suggested Rajiv. Shah smiled knowingly and replied: ‘Which side of Sarkhej is your house situated, ours or theirs?’ When a mystified Rajiv gave the location, Shah responded instantly: ‘Don’t worry then, nothing will happen to your home. Whatever incidents take place, they will occur on the other side of the border.’ Rajiv was stunned by the insensitivity of the answer. ‘Here was my legislator, openly referring to the Hindu–Muslim divide in his area as if only one side has to be worried if there is a riot.’(unquote)
The same MoSha who was then the Chief Minister and the Home Minister of Gujarat state under whose patronage the massacre was carried out successfully has taken over New Delhi today as the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister respectively. History seems to be repeating itself and incidentally even the year! What started as a hate speech would later turn out to be a full-scale riot. BJP leaders have time and again raised provocative slogans against the Anti-CAA protestors. Kapil Mishra who unsuccessfully contested the Delhi Assembly elections on BJP ticket was the first to make the statement 'Desh ke gadaaro ko goli maro' (shoot the traitors of the country) in a Pro-CAA rally in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in December, 2019. The same was invoked by none other than the Minister of state for Finance Anuraq Thakur during the Delhi Assembly elections and further amplified by their ilks. There have been brutal attacks on educational institutions such as Jamia Milia University, Aligarh Muslim University and Jawaharlal Nehru University and even the students were not spared from the onslaught of the right wing elements. The long tirade of the BJP leaders and the pliable institutions and media who have long forgotten to do their job properly have made the matter worse. The attack on Muslims in Delhi is the end result of the continued hate speech made by BJP leaders. The attack happened at a time when Trump made his maiden visit to India. 'NaMoste Trump' was the headline in all the Primetime news channels. There was little or no coverage of the carnage which took place just 15 kms from where POTUS and FLOTUS was staying. Modi was busy revelling with his friend Trump according him the same welcome during his visit to Houston September last.
There was no alacrity from the PMO or the Home Ministry to take stock of the situation. The police which falls directly under the command of the Union Home Ministry chose to be in nexus with the rioters since there was no direction from the high command. There has been a complete fallout of the state machinery. And just when there seemed to be a ray of hope in the form of Justice Muralidhar of Delhi HC who directed the registration of FIR against BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Pravesh Verma and Abhay Verma for making hate speeches. The Modi govt which left no stones unturned to sabotage the prime institutions of this country has put a dent even in the judiciary. The careful timing to transfer Justice Muralidhar to Punjab and Haryana pretty much sums up the sinister design of the duo Modi-Shah. Modi who is known for his theatrics appeared after the dust settled down just like the police in the Bollywood movies and chose to make an appeal through Twitter only after the violence entered its 3rd day. The death toll now stands at 32 and counting while several hundreds are injured.
Mosques have been desecrated. There are stories of horror from every corner of NorthEast Delhi. The arson against the Muslims have been carried out systematically. The army has been called in though its already late. The situation in Delhi is still tense. There is miniscule effort to restore peace but there are qualms in the minds of everyone and the atmosphere will never be the same again. Even as I'm writing this piece on my way to Delhi. I fear what awaits me.
But can we put the blame squarely on Modi? In 2014, he promised to bring Gujarat Model to India. And he has fulfilled at least this one promise. What we're witnessing today is the Gujarat model of 2002.
The BJP, a far right extremist party rose to power in 2014 riding on the waves of Modi and again in 2019 banking on pseudo-nationalism after the Balakot airstrike was conducted discreetly. Mr. Modi, the man solely responsible for the pogrom while he was still the Chief Minister of Gujarat was denied visa by the United States barring him from entering the country in 2005 for failing to thwart let alone condemn the 2002 incident.
The Godhra incident was a state-sponsored terrorism where the Muslims were selectively targeted, maimed, lynched and killed brutally. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party which was in ruling at the state incited and instigated the Hindu fanatics and right wing fringe elements to launch assault on the Muslims. The entire state-machinery was unleashed to aid the rioters to carry out the attack without any hindrance. Rajdeep Sardesai of India today in his book 'How Modi won India, 2019' writes, (quote) 'Senior Gujarat journalist Rajiv Shah tells a story that perhaps best epitomizes the darker aspects of the Amit Shah persona. In mid-March 2002, barely weeks after the communal riots in which more than a thousand people lost their lives, Rajiv bumped into Shah as he was coming out of the chief minister’s office in Gandhinagar. Concerned about the spiraling violence, Rajiv opened up an informal conversation. ‘Why don’t you take the initiative to bring the communities together in Ahmedabad, especially in your Sarkhej constituency?’ he asked Shah. Sarkhej has a large Muslim population, most of which lives in the ghetto-like suburb of Juhapura. A series of mini-riots over the years had created an informal ‘border’ between the Hindu and Muslim dominated areas in the constituency. ‘Why are you so concerned over the rioting?’ was Shah’s sharp response. Rajiv was surprised by the reaction from the public representative but then explained that he had an apartment in Sarkhej and was anxious as violence still simmered in the region. ‘If you take the initiative and bring Hindu and Muslim leaders on one platform, I am sure the area will become tension-free,’ suggested Rajiv. Shah smiled knowingly and replied: ‘Which side of Sarkhej is your house situated, ours or theirs?’ When a mystified Rajiv gave the location, Shah responded instantly: ‘Don’t worry then, nothing will happen to your home. Whatever incidents take place, they will occur on the other side of the border.’ Rajiv was stunned by the insensitivity of the answer. ‘Here was my legislator, openly referring to the Hindu–Muslim divide in his area as if only one side has to be worried if there is a riot.’(unquote)
The same MoSha who was then the Chief Minister and the Home Minister of Gujarat state under whose patronage the massacre was carried out successfully has taken over New Delhi today as the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister respectively. History seems to be repeating itself and incidentally even the year! What started as a hate speech would later turn out to be a full-scale riot. BJP leaders have time and again raised provocative slogans against the Anti-CAA protestors. Kapil Mishra who unsuccessfully contested the Delhi Assembly elections on BJP ticket was the first to make the statement 'Desh ke gadaaro ko goli maro' (shoot the traitors of the country) in a Pro-CAA rally in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in December, 2019. The same was invoked by none other than the Minister of state for Finance Anuraq Thakur during the Delhi Assembly elections and further amplified by their ilks. There have been brutal attacks on educational institutions such as Jamia Milia University, Aligarh Muslim University and Jawaharlal Nehru University and even the students were not spared from the onslaught of the right wing elements. The long tirade of the BJP leaders and the pliable institutions and media who have long forgotten to do their job properly have made the matter worse. The attack on Muslims in Delhi is the end result of the continued hate speech made by BJP leaders. The attack happened at a time when Trump made his maiden visit to India. 'NaMoste Trump' was the headline in all the Primetime news channels. There was little or no coverage of the carnage which took place just 15 kms from where POTUS and FLOTUS was staying. Modi was busy revelling with his friend Trump according him the same welcome during his visit to Houston September last.
There was no alacrity from the PMO or the Home Ministry to take stock of the situation. The police which falls directly under the command of the Union Home Ministry chose to be in nexus with the rioters since there was no direction from the high command. There has been a complete fallout of the state machinery. And just when there seemed to be a ray of hope in the form of Justice Muralidhar of Delhi HC who directed the registration of FIR against BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Pravesh Verma and Abhay Verma for making hate speeches. The Modi govt which left no stones unturned to sabotage the prime institutions of this country has put a dent even in the judiciary. The careful timing to transfer Justice Muralidhar to Punjab and Haryana pretty much sums up the sinister design of the duo Modi-Shah. Modi who is known for his theatrics appeared after the dust settled down just like the police in the Bollywood movies and chose to make an appeal through Twitter only after the violence entered its 3rd day. The death toll now stands at 32 and counting while several hundreds are injured.
Mosques have been desecrated. There are stories of horror from every corner of NorthEast Delhi. The arson against the Muslims have been carried out systematically. The army has been called in though its already late. The situation in Delhi is still tense. There is miniscule effort to restore peace but there are qualms in the minds of everyone and the atmosphere will never be the same again. Even as I'm writing this piece on my way to Delhi. I fear what awaits me.
But can we put the blame squarely on Modi? In 2014, he promised to bring Gujarat Model to India. And he has fulfilled at least this one promise. What we're witnessing today is the Gujarat model of 2002.
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