I have been getting more and more worried over the last year or so at the direction( or lack of it) in which our country is headed. It is like a runaway plane falling from the skies and we are plummeting past one alarming indicator after another– inflation, economic slowdown, falling rupee, complete break-down of law and order, ever emboldened Naxalites, total internalisation of corruption, an administration that answers to no one, complete lack of governance, cronyism on a scale never seen before, a brazen lack of accountability, public intimidation of constitutional authorities, a judicial system that has all but collapsed,environmental disasters that no one knows how to cope with, complete paraplegia of decision-making at all levels in government,appeasement of “minorities” and other sections that is reaching ridiculous and dangerous levels, dynastic politics at the Centre and the states reminiscent of the Mughal era…….
I could go on and on but after some time the mind becomes numb and registers only one emotion——-IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE.
Another five years of this and we would be well on our way to becoming a failed state and joining the ranks of Pakistan, Haiti and Somalia.
The general elections of 2014 offers us one last chance to redeem ourselves. I have been on this mortal coil for 62 years and have never voted for the BJP but have, after much thought, decided to support MODI in 2014. This is considered a heresy in most neo-liberal circles in India today but we have to go beyond mere labelling and stereo typing to understand my decision.
But before I go on to Mr. Modi himself, let us review the context in which this decision has been taken. The state of the country is self evident in para one above.
The next question then is: What are the alternatives or choices that we as voters have?
The Congress will only perpetuate the present mess-even more worrying and dangerous is the fact that, were the Congress to return to power, it would consider it had a renewed mandate to carry on as before.
In any case, who in the country would lead the Congress- a reluctant dynast, or an ageing economist who has discovered his true skills lie in politics, or a backroom puppeteer? Or, God forbid, all three? (Seriously, this is a possibility- after all not one of these three want to shoulder sole accountability, and they may reason that if a dual power centre can ensure two terms, a triple may be good for even more!) No, to my mind the Congress is not an option.
Who else, then?
Well, if we scrape the bottom of the barrel assiduously we will come up with Mamta Banerjee [ TMC], Mulayam Yadav [SP], Nitish Kumar [JDU], Naveen Patnaik [BJD], Jayalalitha [AIADMK], Sharad Pawar [NCP] and Mayawati (BSP). There is no need to discuss their achievements or ideologies at a national level (incidentally, not even one of them has a remotely national outlook or ideology since they cannot see beyond pandering shamelessly to the vote banks in their respective states) because they are state (not even regional) leaders and none of them can hope to be Prime Minister on the strength of their own parties.
They all realise this, of course, hence the idea which periodically emerges like a skin rash, of a Third or Federal Front. This didn’t work even when a Third Front could agree on a leader (as in the case of I.K. Gujral or Deve Gowda). How on earth will it work when every one of the state leaders mentioned above feels that he or she has been reincarnated precisely to become the Prime Minister of India?
The negotiations for choosing a PM (if the Front comes up with the numbers, that is) will resemble one of those WWF fights where about six hunks are put into the ring to beat the daylights out of each other till one of them is left standing to claim the crown. I cannot see all of them agreeing on even one policy issue, whether it is reservations, industrial stimulus,foreign policy, disinvestment, environmental protection, centre-state relations etc.
If they come to power at the Center, the paraplegia of today will become quadriplegia tomorrow.
Fortunately, in any case, they can never muster the 274 seats required-it will be difficult for them to reach even hundred even if they do very well in their states.
So a Third Front is a non-starter, and voting for any of these parties will only help the Congress by dividing the anti-congress vote. [You will have noticed that I have not mentioned Mr. Karat of the CPM. That’s because he’s become like a flat bottle of Coca-Cola- earlier he was all fizz and no substance: now even the fizz has gone].
That leaves only the BJP, with its historical baggage of the RSS, Hindutva, Ramjanmbhoomi (by the way, this baggage also includes five years of exemplary governance under Vajpayee from 1999 to 2004) -perhaps enough baggage to dissuade me from voting for the party. Except that this time the BJP has an add-on: Narender Modi.
And that, to my mind, adds value to the party and makes the crucial difference.
Modi has been reviled ad-nauseam by the “secular” parties and sections of the elite media for many years for the 2002 riots in Gujarat, by the former not because of any love for the Muslims (as I hope to show later) but simply in order to appropriate the Muslim vote, and by the latter because they have to keep whipping somebody in order to get their TRPs – in India only extremes succeed. Modi has been tried and condemned by them not on the basis of facts but by an opportunistic mixture of innuendo, presumption, speculation, half-truths, hear say. Look at the facts.
There was a horrendous orgy of killing of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002 where about 2000 of them were massacred. Some of Modi’s ministers and many BJP / VHP workers were involved: quite a few of them have also been convicted, the trials of many still go on.
The Supreme Court set up at least three SITs and is itself monitoring the investigations. Many PILs have been filed in the SC and the High Court accusing Modi of master-minding these massacres. In not a single case has either the Supreme Court, the High Court or the SITs found any evidence of Modi’s personal complicity.
Yes, they have held that he could have controlled the situation better- but nothing beyond that inspite of ten years of frenetic drum beating and sustained vilification.
Now look at the other set of facts. Under Modi’s current watch, perhaps for the first time in India, people have been actually convicted for communal rioting and murder- more than 200 convictions, with about 130 of them sentenced to life imprisonment.
All the communal massacres in India since Independence have not resulted in even one tenth of these convictions.
Modi’s government has to be given some credit for this: yes, the investigations were carried out by the SIT and not by Modi’s police; yet Modi could, if he was so inclined, have interfered covertly in the whole process by asking his officials not to cooperate, by intimidating witnesses, influencing judges, conveying hints to prosecutors- something which, as we all know too well, governments of all political hues in India have mastered.
Modi could have done what the Congress has done so successfully in Delhi in three other high-profile cases being monitored by the Supreme Court- the Commonwealth Games Scam, the 2G case, and Coalgate ( not to mention also the Sikh massacres of 1984): have these cases made any headway? has wrong-doing been proved in a single instance? has anyone been convicted?
No, Sir, these investigations will drag on and on till they are lost in the mists of time.
Supreme Court monitoring cannot ensure justice unless the govt. of the day allows its agencies to function- it is to Modi’s credit that he did so allow them.
Compare this with the manner in which the police in Delhi have been emasculated to protect some senior Congress leaders in the 1984 Sikh carnage- everyone in Delhi knows, even after 27 long years, that their hands are dipped in blood, but the evidence will never reach the courts; the recent acquittal of Sajjan Kumar only confirms this.
The biggest stigmata on Modi is the charge that he is “communal” and not “secular”.
All (non-NDA) political parties never tire of tom-tomming this from the roof-tops and consider this their trump card to ensure that he will never achieve his Grand-slam at the centre. But after eleven years this is beginning to wear thin and people are beginning to question the assumptions behind this charge and even the definition of what constitutes “communal” and “secular.”
Nirad Choudhry had long ago given his opinion that India is the continent of Circe where humans are turned into beasts-it is also the graveyard of the Oxford Dictionary where the meanings of words are turned on their heads to suit political exigencies! So “communal” today means a Hindu who is not ashamed of saying he is a Hindu, and ” secular” means a Hindu who panders to other religions in order to get their votes at the next elections!
By this inverse definition Modi is considered communal- notwithstanding that not a single Hindu- Muslim riot has taken place in Gujarat under his watch since 2002, notwithstanding that the BJP got 17% of the Muslim vote in the Assembly elections in the state earlier this year, notwithstanding that the party won five of the eight seats which had a dominant Muslim voter base, notwithstanding that the average Muslim in Gujarat is much better off economically than his counterpart in Assam, UP or Bihar (headed by ” secular” parties).
Compare this with the record of the Samajwadi party in UP where more than a hundred communal riots have taken place in less than two years, with the Congress in Assam where hundreds of Muslims were butchered last year and at least three hundred thousand of them are still languishing in relief camps with no hope of ever returning to their villages, with the Congress ruled Maharashtra where hundreds of Muslims were killed with the active help of the police after the Bombay blasts. (Needless to say there do not appear to have been any convictions in any of these pogromes). And MODI is communal?
I am a Hindu but I stopped going into any temple twenty years ago because I was sickened by the rapacious behaviour of their pundits.
I am no longer a practicing Hindu in a public, ritualistic sense and frankly I don’t know how many of the religious beliefs I retain, but I still consider myself a Hindu because Hinduism is more than just a religion- it is a culture, a civilisation, a way of life.
But in the Kafkaesque India of today if you were to proclaim that you are a Hindu (even though you have equal respect and regard for all other religions) you would be branded “communal”- this is what political discourse has been reduced to by our politicians.
And being “secular” no longer means treating all religions equally: it means splintering society into a myriad “minorities” (another perversion of the Oxford Dictionary) and then pandering to such of them as suit you in your naked pursuit of power.
In the process India has been converted into a complex jigsaw of minorities, castes, tribes, classes, sections and what have you.
The British could have learnt plenty from us about Divide and Rule!
But more and more right thinking people are beginning to question this recipe for disaster, and I am one of them.
India is 80% Hindu- why should one then have to be apologetic about proclaiming that one is a Hindu ? We have been ruled and exploited and vandalised for eight hundred years by Muslims and for another two hundred years by Christians, and yet we have accorded these two religions a special status as “minorities” with privileges that the Hindus don’t have.
Has any other country in the world ever displayed such a spirit of accommodation and egalitarianism?
Is there a more secular civilisation in the world?
And yet, a Hindu who says he is a Hindu is considered communal!
Does a Hindu have to prove his secular credentials time and again by greater levels (or depths) of appeasement of other religions simply so that they can continue to be vote bank fodder for political parties?
Modi has had the courage to raise these questions and is therefore being reviled by those political parties whose apple carts he is threatening to upset. But people are beginning to pay attention. Modi is not considered secular because he is proud to be a Hindu and refuses to give doles or concessions to any religious group (including Hindus, but that is conveniently glossed over) beyond what is provided in the constitution and the laws of the land. He believes this weakens the social fabric of the country and that even handed development is the best guarantee for equitable prosperity for all. He is not considered secular (and instead is branded as communal) because he says publicly that he is proud to be a Hindu. And has he done anything blatantly or provocatively pro-Hindu in the last ten years?
There is not a single instance of this and yet he is vilified as communal and anti-minorities by the same party that presided over more than two hundred anti-Muslim riots in the seventies and eighties in Gujarat, that massacred 6000 Sikhs in 1984, that lit the fuse in Ayodhya by installing an icon of Ram in the mosque there, that failed to take any action when the Babri masjid was being razed to the ground! Modi has carefully distanced himself from any public support of Hindutva, has kept the VHP and the Bajrang Dal on a tight leash in Gujarat ever since he came to power there, and has even incurred the wrath of the RSS for not toeing the line on their purely religious agenda. It takes time, and some mistakes, to attain maturity; the Modi of today is not the Modi of 2002: then he was still in the pracharak mould of the RSS, inexperienced in the exercise of power, lacking administrative experience. He has now developed into a politician with a vision, an administrator who has delivered to his people and caught the fancy of the entire corporate world in India and abroad. Rahul Gandhi has been around in politics for almost the same length of time but has still not progressed beyond his epiphanic perception that India is a bee-hive.
Pause a while to honestly compare Modi’s qualities with his peers in the political firmament. His integrity is impeccable, both personal and vicarious. Even Mr. Manish Tewari has not been able to charge him on this score, and that’s saying something! I am not aware of a single major scam unearthed during his term( compare this with the Congress either in Maharashtra or at the Centre: the Congress has more skeletons in its cupboard than a graveyard does).
Modi has no family to promote or to insure against inflation for the next hundred years (compare this with any other party leader, all of whom have given an entirely new meaning to the term “joint family”- brothers, uncles, wives, sons, sons-in-law, nephews-all happily and jointly looting the nation’s resources).
Modi has a vision and a road map for the future and he has demonstrated in Gujarat that he can implement his vision.
No other major leader of the parties that are vilifying him comes even close to comparing with him in this respect- Manmohan Singh once had a vision but his unique concept of “coalition dharma” has ensured that he now cannot see, or hear, or talk; Rahul Gandhi cannot see beyond bee-hives and boats that rise with the tide, Sharad Pawar cannot see the woods for the sugar-cane stalks, Mulayam Singh has been fixated on the Prime Minister’s chair for so long that he has now started hallucinating; Nitish Kumar’s vision is a peculiar bi-focal which enables him to see only Muslims and OBCs; Navin Patnaik, being erudite and sophisticated must be having a vision but he has not deigned to share it with anyone yet; Mayawati cannot see beyond statues of herself and of elephants; and as for Mamta Banerjee, she is colour blind-she can only see red. Modi’s track record as an administrator inspires confidence in his ability to play a role at the national level.
He sets specific goals, provides the resources and then gives his bureaucrats a free hand to operate.
He has ensured water availability to towns and to greater number of farmers, Gujarat now has 24X7 power and has even offered to sell power to other states.
Modi has realised long before his peers that future growth can only come from the manufacturing sector since the past stimulus provided by the service sector is now bottoming out, and has prepared his state to attract capital: perennial roadblocks which have bedevilled other states- land acquisition, labour issues, law and order, lack of decision making, cronyism- have all been sorted out. It is no surprise then that Gujarat has been receiving the second highest amount of investment funds after Maharashtra.
His opponents, looking for anything to denigrate his achievements, cavil that Gujarat has always been a progressive state and no credit goes to Modi for all this. True, Gujarat (and Gujaratis) have always been entrepreneurial and progressive, but any economist can tell them that the higher you are on the performance scale, the more difficult it is to make incremental gains- and these gains Modi has been making year after year.
Gujarat has consistently been among the top five states in just about all economic, social and human development indicators, and far above the national figures.
Here are some figures I picked up in the Hindustan Times of June 12, 2013:
Modi is no paragon of virtue. He is arrogant, does not allow a second rung of leadership to emerge, brooks no opposition, is impatient and authoritative, is not a consensus builder. But then we are not seeking to canonise a saint but looking for a political leader who can get this country out of the morass that its present stock of politicians has got us into. We are looking for someone who can be decisive rather than justify inaction under the garb of seeking an elusive “consensus”. We are looking for someone who has the courage to have a vision and the skills to translate it into reality. We are looking for someone who will work for the country and not for his ” joint family”.
We are looking for someone who can restore our identities as INDIANS and not merely as Brahmins or Scheduled castes or Muslims or Backward castes.
We are looking for someone who will not pander to religions and be truly secular.
And we are looking for someone who will not be ashamed to say that he is a Hindu in the land that gave birth to the most tolerant and enlightened religion this world has seen.
Modi may fail- in fact, there are good chances that he will. But he at least promises change, whereas the others promise only more of the same. He offers us Hope. Shouldn’t he be given a chance?
| The author retired from the IAS in December 2010. A keen environmentalist and trekker he has published a book on high altitude trekking in the Himachal Himalayas: THE TRAILS LESS TRAVELLED.
His second book- SPECTRE OF CHOOR DHAR is a collection of short stories based in Himachal and was published in July 2019. His third book was released in August 2020: POLYTICKS, DEMOCKRAZY AND MUMBO JUMBO is a compilation of satirical and humorous articles on the state of our nation. His fourth book was published on 6th July 2021. Titled INDIA: THE WASTED YEARS , the book is a chronicle of missed opportunities in the last nine years. Shukla’s fifth book – THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER’S DOG AND OTHER COLLEAGUES- was released on 12th September 2023. It portrays the lighter side of life in the IAS and in Himachal. He writes for various publications and websites on the environment, governance and social issues. He divides his time between Delhi and his cottage in a small village above Shimla. He blogs at http://avayshukla.blogspot.in/ |
Very strong and true writing by a excellent person I salute him for giving the right picture
with his pen. Even I support Modi.
vow this was excellent article. Surprised that this does not have any comments yet.
I totally agree with your assessments and views
Very well written…
it is really very patriatic message with warning to the futurre of india to see nava bharath nirman.enough is enough thie people decided to change this corrupt congress to change with namo mantra for vibrant indis like gujsrat.vandemataram.
Undoubtedly one of the finest and elaborate article I have gone through in internet and also about Modi. Specially the way you have compared Manish Tiwari’s politics (family corruption etc.) and Modi’s politics is remarkable. Hope BJP will come to power in 2014 and Modi will lead us with a bright future for all from 6 to sixty.
I do not know whether Modi or Tom, Dick or Harry will make a good PM, but time for change has definitely come. The Congress under MMS and Sonia Gandhi has become too smug and contented for its own good or for the good of this country and its people. The leaders feel they cannot be hauled up for any wrong they do, and they have been getting away with murder (literally).
This country needs change, and a strong leader who can bring it about fast. If it is Modi and the BJP – so be it! I am prepared to change my political loyalty.
Zabardast.. my vote for modi this time
I highly appreciate this article.It has to reach to everybody those who are in fool’s paradise (pseudo secularism)
lovely,,,,,,,,,well written
In 2014 we for one last time have the authority to bring about change. It will be time for us to cast votes (sans political loyalties) for welfare of the nation and not for mere caste, color or creed. MODI is the only right direction I see because his administration and no bullshit leadership does inspires confidence to make a difference at the national level.
Very well presented. The role of leaders like Karat and Sita [the CPM duo] needs elaboration: Karat is not cola without fizz; Karat and Sita have twisted the Left movement to serve the American Neo-conservatives, hence CPM should be renamed Marxist neo-conservatives. Nitish’s mischiefs are already tumbling out; for starters, giving away Waqf land to land sharks and builder mafia and a GDP growth without substance. Mulayam, Navin, Didi: these are Diwali sparklers.
Well said Avay Shukla.
This is indeed a meticulously written eye-opener and something that every Indian should read before he goes to vote in 2014. And makes even more sense when it comes from such a high ranked officer, having mentioned that he has never been a pro-BJP bureaucrat and has never voted for it.
I highly appreciate the depth in this piece. But I still feel that we should hold our opinion about the All God Modi and think beyond him. He is just a swan among the ducks. We go crazy for Modi because we see in him something what we haven’t seen in last 10 years. But we ignore his part which is still the same as every other politician.
First, the mess he created at the time of appointment of Gujarat Lokayukta last year, does it convey that he wanted to appoint a Lokayukta of his choice? Like Congress does at centre? What would he seek in return? Favors?
Second, the web of filthy rich businessmen that he has woven around him, most importantly NRIs, should we ignore that he might help them loot national resources like Ambani’s oil loot, that ousted Jaipal Reddy? Given the huge money that he would need in 2014 elections would come from these big houses.
I wish you had mentioned atleast in a single sentence about Aam Aadmi Party. I know we have no one to fill the void at centre, but at the same time we ignore the smallest sincere effort which seeks our attention.
Modi might not be the change that we need, and are looking for. It has to come from outside the political circles, it has to be somebody from among us. Like Arvind Kejriwal says “We are not Politicians, we do not know Politics. We are a fed up citizen.”
I appreciate your comments Mr. Kalia. I have already admitted in my piece that Modi is not a paragon of virtue-after all, he is an Indian politician, and as they say: ” if you lie down with dogs you will get up with fleas!” The question is:what are the alternatives? The Lokayukta imbroglio was not so much about a man of his choice as about Modi being offended by the Governor by-passing him.About NRI investments, there will always be questions raised when industry is invited into a state. But in order to attract investments any state govt. has to offer incentives in the form of land, tax breaks etc.and these are legitimate parts of any state’s industrial policy.Where vigilance is needed is to ensure that no undue benefits are conferred at the cost of the state exchequer; so far I have not come across any instance where Modi has been accused of conferring such benefits on anyone. Gas pricing and allotments( your ref. to Ambani) is the sole domain of the Centre and there is little Modi can do here. I nfact it is the Centre which raised gas prices yesterday!Sometimes you have to reflect market realities in order to attract investments and I see nothing wrong in the Centre’s decision even. As For AAP, I am an admirer of Kejriwal but am of the view that he should limit himself to Delhi in these elsctions: he can certainly make a difference here, and should not stretch his resources too thin. He cannot afford to fail, and we don’t want him to!
Sir, thanks for your inputs again. I am convinced with your views on Lokayukta Issue and AAP’s limited resources to face the general elections. It would be heartening to see AAP perform upto our expectations, anywhere. But that too seems like a distant dream as I have recently read that Sheila has policies lined up to appease, read buyout, slums which are a huge vote bank to be decisive enough in a small state like Delhi.
Regarding Oil, I think I was not clear enough to put my point. I never meant that Modi could do something and he did not. Like you, I am sceptical that he might favor business tycoons at exchequer’s cost. But I do not agree with you about policy decision revising oil prices. If ia m not wrong, CAG had also pointed out that policy decisions are being made to favor Reliance. Had it been purely a strategic or economic decision I would have appreciated it. Well that is beyond our point of discussion.
I also feel that we need somebody like Modi, to improve national situation as well as international relations at a time when India has lost its spine to stand aggressively against other nations, be it Maldives or USA.
Can you explain what does Arvind Kejriwal meant by this “We are not Politicians, we do not know Politics. We are a fed up citizen”.Isn’t he a politician?
What is the stand of AAP on UCC(Uniform Civil Code).If I’m not wrong AAP supports 11% job reservation to Muslims.I want to know why.They already come under BC category.Isn’t this job reservation supported by AAP based on religious basis.Isn’t this communal.
One would rather go with the swan amongst the ducks. I was on a 14 day holiday in Gujrat this January and was really impressed by the development there. There were examples of best case study evreywhere …be it with the Gujrat Tourism Marketing, Setting up of Industries, GPS mapping of entire state , its alternative energy initatives , Gir National Park and what have you. Of late it was his micro managment of crisis to rescue thousands of Gujratis from Utterakhand with a small team of effective officers. Its high time to replicate the success story of Gujrat and i am impressed with the facts presented in the article by none other than Mr. Avay Shukla an officer par excellence , a person who would never. advocate any political person without a thorough introspection of conduct. Born and bred in a nation which idealizes Hinduism as a way of life, i would say Mr. Modi is in a pivitol position in the Geometry of political relationships challanging India,s growth and we should go for him in the 2014 elections.
^ with due respect, the AAP will only eat into anti congress (read BJP) votes. Arvind bhai is too smart not to realise it. If AAP really, really wants a change they would support the anti Congress effort, not create confusion in the minds of well meaning citizens and divide the anti congress votes.
the only entity whose life is made easier by AAP is Congress, food for thought?
Sir,
You will loose your pension for writing what you did.
Very well written. Dirty politics within the BJP and NDA is causing hurdles to Modi. Advani and other NDA members are still not able to sense the mood of this country and the people. They need to push their politics to the back burner and whole-heartedly support Modi for 2014 to give a tough competition to Congress instead of breaking the vote bank by forming a third front.
The article has been written to Glori-fy Modi though it doesn’t claim to be so & in the process it tries to distory facts to suit itself. I am not a Congress supporter but one example of how you tend to change things to suit yourself is the Babjri Masjid Claim! Everyone knows BJP was the mastermind of Babri Masjid & its biggest mistake & the author smartly turns it into a Congress fault by saying that they failed to contain them?? Please show an unbiased picture sir!
Babri Masjid problem is the contribution of the entire political class of this country, and is typical of the tu-tu mai-mai that it has degenerated to.Rajiv Gandhi, Narsimha Rao, LK Advani are all directly implicated: the first was instrumental in getting Lord Ram’s statue installed there to appease the Hindus who resented his setting aside of the Shah Bano judgement of the SC, Advani was the catalyst for the demolition of the mosque, and Narsimha Rao did not move a finger to prevent its destruction. Modi, however, was not involved, though the BJP was.He has shown no interest in revisiting this issue. The whole point of my article is that though Modi is BJP, yet he is something more than the BJP, something different. He cannot openly say so for fear of losing his Hindu voters( he is afterall in the business of politics and not that of being Mother Teresa!)but he is not espousing or pressing the agenda of the VHP or Bajrang Dal. And that is what gives me hope. Let us judge him by his actions on the ground, and not on the basis of stereotypes we may have formed.
His IPS force is more inside prisons and less outside. The DG is being treated as a proclaimed offender. So many IGs, DGs, Directors could not have been doing these killings merely to improve their shooting standards. Very unlikely. It all points to Modi.
And if this is so, I am not risking the life of my son, just so that the Mr Visionary get to pull India out of the dungeon.
Before you endorse him, have a (last) look at your son/daughter.
I may be a bad and unpatriotic Indian but am a good father.
The same oldies like you will pull this country down with your cowardly attitudes towards revolution or change. The same govt. office going people like you will take bribe or give favours for your promotion. So don’t give holier than thou attitude I know clerks like you. That is the reason I left my plum govt. job so that I can escape thick moustache oldies like you who suck up to their bosses and can go to lowest rung of bootlicking. Want safety? Go to Norway. India is pretty unsafe on roads too.
Hats off Mr Avay Shukla.
I too have never been able to like Narender Modi for years for apparent acts of commission and ommission which were too serious to be forgotten. Here I disagree with you on courts not finding him guilty.
However the fact is that he has proven to be different over time. He undoubtedly is our best choice. Rather THE ONLY HOPE in this hopeless situation. CHANGE yes not only of government but THE THOUGHT PROCESS.
a Movement should be built and I am willing to work.
sincere regards
Incidentally are you ex Himachal?
Alok Sharma
A well argued write-up on a topic currently occupying the centrestage in the run upto 2014( or may be later 2013). At the point of analysing the available options for we voters, you have noted ‘backroom puppeteer’- apart from reluctant dynast and an ageing economist – apparently loaded against Congress. Quite right. But then, are you sure that ‘backroom puppeteers’ of BJP’s stock aren’t calling the shots in Modi’s case or for that matter they are unlikely to do so should Modi get the coveted post?…Come on, have a dispassionate analysis of the whole issue.
If India has to survive & progress for the welfare of all its citizens, then fundamental changes in the method of governing the nation are required to be put in place.This can be done only by replacing UPA by a coliation front headed by Narendra Modi.India deserves better governance.Let us give a fair chance to Narendra Modi.
Well Said sir…:)
Dear Mr. Shukla.. Kudos! Epic Views!
Don’t have words to praise the way you have brought out the facts.
Even I don’t back a party, be it Congress of BJP, but have been gravitating towards Modi for many reasons. Now I just know for sure, why he is, My Prime Minister-designate.
Only one place where I disagree with you.. that is about his victory prospects. He IS gonna win!! 🙂
Thanks.. And do write more.
A well written article which covers a wide spectrum of topics on why one should vote Modi. As usual we can see firm resistance from some readers which is only expected from the status quoists and the cheese and wine sipping left whose plush carpet is being yanked from under their feet. For too long they have had a ball peddling lies and distrust
Mr Ajay Sir,
Is is no doubtedly one of the best article I hv ever read about Modi. I am a resident of Godhra and very much aware abt the ground reality of my place and the problems godhra has. I would also like to bring to your notice that there was Mr. Kalota – He was head in Municipal corporation of Godhra from congress. He was the mastermind of Godhra train burning but with the understanding of all muslims his name had not been raised. He had very carefully crafted the conspiracy and was leading the mob at the time of train burning. But time has come not to play congress – BJP game now and vote for the best suitable candidate who at least has best of the potential. I even liked the way u hv replied to the queries raised by people in the forum.
Great article. Hope this guides at least few people to right direction.
I have tears in my eyes and goosebumps….may God bless you sir
He is the only choice to lead this great nation of ours. He has shown consistent growth in the state of Gujarat and any day a better alternative to all the others present in the political arena. Hope he gets elected and turns the present India into a Technological Giant with deep rooted successful agricultural base.
Very nice article !!
To add to your first para: This government has also been successful in downgrading education by reservations, creating more IITs/IIMs and by meddling with the admission criteria of IITs.
“…the Congress has more skeletons in its cupboard than a graveyard…”
Excellent, worth quoting. (I do hope i have your kind permission).
Rahul gandhi was celebrating his b’day after Uttarakhand disaster with all top leaders.Modi reached Uttarakhand 2 days after tragedy.
FBI stated Ishrat Jahan was a
terrorist. IB stated Ishrat Jahan
was a terrorist. Lashkar e Toiba
declares her as a martyred
terrorist. Arrested Terroritst
David Headley claimed Ishrat was
a terrorist. J&K Police claims
Ishrat’s accomplices were part of
a conspiracy to kill Modi. But CBI
gives a clean chit to Ishrat. Whom
would be believe more?
Dear Sir,
This is very meticulously written article. I feel every Indian should read it and make a balanced decision for 2014. Our youth needs to come out and vote and change course of India.
Thanks a lot for investing your time, coming out with solid numbers, brilliant comparison. We are for One India Developed India.
Jai Hind.
Excellent presentation of what matters for this country, everyone is on a crusade to bury a good man to pander to their own selfish interests!!!
The sad part is that the media is playing the same game. They call themselves secular but play down Hindu stories and play up that of muslims…. so how does this make them secular? Secular is supposed to mean… equal to all… then why this disdain towards Hindus?
They are playing games basis religion while the country is wallowing in poverty and politicians from UPA are looting the country blind!!
I vote for MODI!!
Great article. But you should also check this out: http://vote4modi.org/3-reasons-to-not-vote-for-narendra-modi/
if only everyone in india could read this article
As if your opinion counts…
Every opinion, every vote, counts.
So much for Modi Propoganda. Whoever you wish to vote for, its your right, but facts can not be changed. He was responsible for the Godhra riots as the head of the state at least and he has been elemental in affecting the investigations and judicial process as well. The memory of masses is short. If people are ready to be so ceremonial about criminals and want to see them leading the nation, the future of this country does not seem too bright.
Facts cannot be changed that you have a myopic vision and your father or some influential chacha-bhatija may be in congress “family”. I don’t see no reason to not vote for modi. My vote goes to him.
Did I miss your statement that all the chief ministers and prime ministers under whom any riot ever took place are responsible and should be tried?
By that logic, all the congress leaders past and present will be in jail or under trial.
How on earth do you have the nerves to keep repeating the same thing over and over? It’s simple logic – do you think the congress government with all the central agencies working for them would have spared Modi of there was any shred of evidence against him?
I personally do not read too much into wiki leaks but given so many do, let me quote them, “Narendra Modi is personally corruptible”.
I don’t think a man of that calibre deserves to be the best prime minister India never had.
I have lived in Ahmedabad for 20 years,
I was a school kid when i witnessed the Godhra riots.
All arguments aside, someone might be responsible for something. I dont know.
Prior to 2002 every year, several incidents of communal riots used to happen in Ahmedabad. Every year during the rath yatra’s something or the other would come up. People used to be scare to go in ‘other’s’ areas.
10 years from then, i have not heard of a single, smallest outburst of communal riots!!
And it is not because one community dominates over the other, or one is scared of the other.
It is only because in the last 10 years, our leader has not been instigating us against other communities, instead he has been working on making sure that we can learn to think rationally before being lured by political speeches which used to be the prime reason for communal tension in ahmedabad prior to 2002
please have a look all over India in past 10 years. You can see soo many communal riots happened especially in south part where soo many hindus lost their life. Plz dont close your eyes and make it dark.
He is just referring Gujrat…
I was referring to Gujarat.
But people like you always want to find faults and mistakes. you will keep saying what you hear from the media. And think you have all the knowledge in the world about the matter!!
I pity you!
Good information Ishan.. This is a supporting point of Modi ji..
Good information Ishan.. this is a supporting point of Modi Ji.. I heard it in speeches by Modi and read it in news paper.. But, your personal experience now acknowleding it..
u seem to be die hard supporter of COngress…hv u ever been through the data regardsing the riots in Gujarat pre-modi era…juss go through it and decide..y did u choose congress again n again..??ex: 1969 riot in Gujarat under Congress Govt and many more..juss google it..
You know what… Get out of pseudo intellectual oblivion & externally fed information which turns out to be your opinion without a thought. First of all you are neither capable nor informed enough to proclaim that Modi was “Responsible”. Then keep one thing in mind too.. We Indians ( That goes for me too..though I have been trying to improve) always point out the problems & are so obsessed with negativity that we stop looking for positive signs. If you can’t suggest an alternative, then evaluate yourself before being judgmental about anyone else. Or do you want Egypt like situation here too.. But for that also, we need to give chance to this promising leader of contemporary India.
Ma’am, you wrote: “……the future of this country does not seem too bright” (if Modi becomes PM).
(Sigh) It isn’t exactly bright as on date. What to speak of bright, i would even settle for a faint flicker right now. The rupee is headed the way of the Zimbabwe dollar. On top of that the present rulers are bent on buying votes on an empty treasury with more doles. And propaganda substituting for performance.
No harm in trying out a new captain before swinging out the lifeboats.
Even I hate modi for the same…But is there a better alternative?? If you got some answer reply with justification… may be it can help other persons who are in my situation
Hello Ms. Avantika,
Problem is… these days it has become fashion to talk about godhra riot, and portray yourself as secular, let me tell you madam, why you didn’t ever talk about the burning train, sikh issue in 1984, regular communal fight in gujarat with the help of congress, panditji’s connection in edwina, panditji’s stubbornness to keep away sardar patel from becoming PM, highest Income tax, death or murder of PM Shastriji in Russia to maintain defense nexus of congress…, Madam take a break and get in to the history, being or portraying your self so called secular you do not know you are supporting toxic political party, process, leaders and terrorist,
Be witness of Development of Gujarat, which has created lot of employment opportunity and reduce poverty,
You won’t understand, so called pseudo intellectual fashionable, double standard
In reply to your statement,
If people are ready to be so ceremonial about criminals and want to see them leading the nation, the future of this country does not seem too bright.
Are you kidding me? Do you really think India is being led by non criminals? And believe me,If you have read about criminal acts that our current leaders are involved in,Modi will be a saint by that standards. 🙂
Ok, you are afraid of repetition of past. Question is “Out of the available resources who is the most preferable and why?”.
Have you got any better option. Saying “NO” at others is very easy. But coming with an option is difficult. Better Quote, whom do you suggest and rationalize your choice comparing with the rationale the author presented. If you cant throw lime light on better option you can no longer comment in public quorums.
GO BACK and RETURN WITH ANY OPTION OF YOUR CHOICE.
Innocent until proven guilty, that’s what democracy works on. All investigations carried out in order to frame Modi have failed to incriminate him. By your logic, Rajiv Gandhi is responsible for the 84 riots and Nehru himself killed everyone in the 47 riots. You might not want to vote for Modi, but there are people who see a lot of hope in him. If numbers are to be taken into account, I don’t think there’s a very strong argument against him. And tell me this, does the future seem bright if the country is in the hands on a dimwit heir to the Congress throne who has absolutely no credentials to his name apart from the fact that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth?
How do u know that he is at Fault , did u see him personaly ,Every investigating agency is failing to fix Modi , Your favorite UPA is trying hard all these years still cannot prove anything , Propaganda against him is much bigger than the pro Modi.
I see there is clear International conspiracy to put India back to the slavery, people like you without knowing what you are doing hurting progress of this country.
We need someone who can generate Pride in Indians so that everybody starts contributing towards the progress.
you can talk only about riots…if you believe in the law system then be aware of the fact that SC court has already given its decesion in favour of Modi….why dont you talk about riots in 1992 (ayodhya)… who was the ruling party then? … why people talk only about Godhra and not aydhya?….lets talk about Mother-in-law helping mista Vadra in making billions…talk about uttarakhand choppers offered by mista Vadra and the cost for each dead body and a living body as against the help offered by Modi which was denied by the state government of Uttarakhand just cuz of dirty politics….isin’t that equivalent of killing innocent people …y Raul Vinci should be head of the country (though he has so many criminal charges against him)…so i would suggest lets not talk about what happened but talk about how can we change the current situation…state of Gujrat is a great example (when compared to other states)…state of Andhra Pradesh is a great example (growth happened when CB Naidu was ruling…its stagnent thereafter)…who came up with the developement projects like golden quadilateral…joining all the rivers of India to avoid floods and drought…its all under the rule of one man Mr.Vajpayi (BJP)…Modi is just doing it for a state as he has his powers limited…its time we help him unleash his power and give him a chance to prove!!!
As per figures given by the Union Minister of State for Home Shriprakash Jaiswal, who belongs to the Congress Party, in Parliament on 11 May 2005, 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed in the riots, 2548 people were injured and 223 people were missing. This was in a WRITTEN REPLY to a question asked by a Congress member on the religion wise casualties in Gujarat after Godhra. The report placed the number of riot-affected widows at 919 and the number of children orphaned at 606. The UPA government gives these figures, and hence they themselves may be inflated.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4536199.stm
now who the fuck do i believe? the union minister of state for home of the government or these human rights activists and journalists who peddle any no, they like??
DEAR GERE THE QUESTION WHY THIS WAS PLANNED WHEN THE TRAIN BURNED FROM INSIDE AND THE MATTER WAS ESCALTED SAYING IT WAS MUSLIMS FROM OUTSIDE DID IT –
THESE GAMES OF THE GUJ CM IS TO BRING ALL THE HINDUS TO ONE SIDE AND SEPEARTE THE MUSLIMS FROM THEIR BROTHER HOOD
AND FINALLY GARB THE HINDUS VOTES WHICH HE DID AND THE NRI’S SUPPORTED FINALACIALLY AND THE GUJRAT MODEL HE THINKG CAN MAKE FOR INDIA SORRY THE AYODHA VOILNED CHASE AWAY FOREIGN TOURSITS FOR 5 YEARS LOSS 50,000 CRS AND EXPORT EFFECTED TO MILLIONS OF RUPEES AND THE TRUST OF INDIA IN TH GOLBE CAME DOWN TO ZERO DUE TO VLILENCE AND MAHEM SEE WHERE ADVANI IS TODAY =ONLY DUR TO VAJPAEE THE INDIAS GOOD CITIZEN GAVE VOTE FOR BJP TO GIVGE A CHANCE AND SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO-THEIR GARLANDING MODI FOR GODHRA GAVE THE SIGNAL TO INDIAN PUBLIC THE HINDUS WHOM I LIKE VERY MUCH- THAT INDIA IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT VOILENCE AND SHAME ALL OVER THE WORLD THAN A TRON COUNTRY –
REGARDS
Very well written article, gives us deep insights into the issues being faced my Modi and accomplices over the past few years. I believe every Indian should read this article and vote for Modi in the 2014 election. Its high time we need change we need Modi!
Why did you not mention about AAP(Aam Aadmi party)? I would like to hear some points regarding why not to vote for them.
Omkar, I am a great fan of Kejirwal and I am a member of AAP too. But I will not vote for my own party in this loksaba elections. My vote is for Modi. AAP is very young. My full support to AAP at state level but not at national level at this moment.
Because they have no experience and no ideas. Harping about corruption all the time doesn’t give the AAP the right to govern the nation. They have no economic view, no view on foreign affairs, on what basis is anyone to vote for them?
Madam ji, ye chashma jo aankh pe lagaya hai wo dimaag pe lagaao. Shayad tab samajh me aa jaay. pata nahi aur kitne padhe likhe hain is desh me….
My Dear Sir,
Vande Maataram !
Well thought/deliberated/with proof/detailed/ descriptive/need of the day, article. I personally agree
that the meaning of Secular in our country is not at all Secular but one sided, for minority appeasement only.
I am sure as on today, Indian politics, if at all any one can give any respite alone. Unless an united effort by–MOdi led BJB–RSS, Baba Ramdaveji & people fighting for Lokayukt–Anna-Kajariwal-Kiran Bedi-Dr Kalam ,etc come together 7 fight the corrupt present system, coming 2013-2014-Election will be a desastrous one.
Lets do our best rest will be done by The Almighty.
No doubt my full support is for Modi.
With best wishes & good luck to all my Countrymen for the vary soon coming next Election.
Jai Bharat ! Jai Hind !
Wg Cdr Dr P Sukhlecha -Udaipur-Raj
Compare to other countries of the world, the condition of India is very bad. In India when you wake up in the morning what would be our breaking NEWS?
POLITICAL VIEWS.
NATURAL DISASTERS,
RIOTS,
RAPES,
ECONOMICAL BREAKDOWNS…..
Nothing positives I see in the NEWS.
While watching the NEWS in other country
You will be heard about
US launches new SATELLITES…
Canada has discover new vaccines for Flu…
And So on…
And thus Nothing’s going to change in INDIA.
Until….
WE CHANGE THE CURRENT SYSTEM IN INDIA.
NOW THE TIME IS CALLING FOR THE CHANGE.
THEN WHY ARE WE HESITATING.
LET’S TRY ONCE THE MODI.
GO FOR MODI……..JAY HIND
Well written. Gonna share.
Fuck Congress!!! Cheaters…they have spoiled the country and even the media is with them..no one will show the real face of congress, We need a unbiased news channel…which really cares about the country rather then just a fucking political party like congress…I feel times group have there share in every scam, thats why they will never be against congress….and they will always speak against NAMO!!! Jai NAMO!!!
I will vote for him…
No doubt the article is well written, yet some questions need answers. Systems and not individuals are needed for good governance. Defective systems lead to bad governance. Can individuals bring change? Let us see what recent history has to say. JP movement was almost a political apocalypse for the Congress wiping it out completely in its four major northern bastions. It threw up innumerable leaders on the national and state platforms. V.P.Singh had an immaculate image. But, could he bring change? Youngsters may not know that when lathis were being blown on JP (in what was also suggested as a conspiracy to kill him), it was Lallu Prasad Yadav( Yes the erstwhile CM of Bihar and Later railway Minister) who covered him and took all the blows on himself . A painful sacrifice that saved JP’s life. Lallu and Mulayam Singh Yadav were staunch socialists representing the have-nots. They had clean backgrounds before they came to power. What happened when they got power? Prafulla Mahanta was a product of a mass movement that transformed the political contours of Assam. A man with sterling credentials. What happened when he came to power? Apart from VP these names have become synonyms of corruption. I can go on and on…. The moot point is that however honest a person may be, if he enters a flawed system, he become a part of that system and is ultimately consumed by it. Can anyone doubt the personal integrity of Atal Bihari? Even he could not become bigger than the system and the systems prevailed. India continued to reel under the maladies it always had. Even if we presume Modi has immaculate credentials, the fact is he can in no way become bigger than the systems of governance as they exist today. With due apologies to Modi fans, it is humanly impossible. The systems will again takeover and India will be as it has always been.
So, is there no hope? Yes, there is no hope till we change the systems. And this is where Arvind Kejriwal steps in. His analysis of our problems is almost flawless. It lies in the systems and not individuals. Lord Acton had said more than a century ago ‘Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’, and it has proved to be truism. Arvind has provided a workable solution through ‘Swaraj” where there will be a sweeping change in systems and power will be decentralized to the people. (I recommend that the book ‘Swaraj’ is a must read as it will answer most of our questions on bad governance) AAP is the only party which is Systems and not people centric. So, those who think Modi can work miracles without changing systems may be in for a huge disappointment. Until we change the systems that yield bad governance there’s little individuals even like Modi can do. These are my personal views and I respect the right of my friends to disagree.
Thank you sir.. we hope that true people (civil servents) like you who have been doing the hard work behind the scenes and keeping this country running will come out more openly and will make things clear to the people of this country at this hour of judgement. We need you people to speak more often and more openly. Thank you for what you have done and what you are doing for our country and us.
Thanks Sir.. I obey the same respect for you..
Very nice View of Shri. Avay Shuklya ji, Rtd. IAS.. Shri. Modiji achieved a religious riots free state in past 10 years (Refer Ishan comments in blog who is resident of Ahmadabad).. I feel that Modi, if not involved in Gujrat Riots, can make a public announcement that he was not involved.. I know few Muslim friends who get so much angry and start saying “harami” when Mr.Modi appears on TV. Such negative impression has he got in Muslim’s mind.. he must answer them in public.. then only, he can call himself as a secular leader.. When media asks questions about the riots, he is simply passing it by saying ” I had answered this question in the Court and any one can check those records”… As a Hindu, i may not have such emotions like Muslims.. But, as a human being, i consider such riots seriously.. And, when, the Court could allow Excavation around Ayodhya mosque and investigations legally in a democratic way, why our leaders had to demolish literally standing on it, which is nothing but the repetition of same action that was done by uncivilized afghan emperors centuries ago.. Anger was initiated by BJP.. they have to initiate steps and take responsibility, to answer the public.. at least for minority vote bank sake….
Truly well researched & thought provoking article on the current state of our nation & its leaders.
I sincerely hope all right thinking Indians of whichever Caste or Religion will atleast read this article & make the right choice of voting Modi to lead India to become a Super power much faster.
My and my family’s votes will go for NaMo. Whether he becomes PM or not, I will be satisfied that at least I tried electing someone who has a potential to bring change and take the entire country (all people) forward and lead it to peace and prosperity; bring India on the global map, towards becoming a super power.
Like it or not, MoDi is an Irnonman, and today given the situation, such person is the need of the hour, seems to be only alternate. No one can ignore NM.
Hats off to your comments and ideologies.The time has come when youth needs to self-reflect and act wise otherwise things will go on as they have been.We need to rise to the occasion and help the country get out of this pit.
JAI BHARAT
INDIA WILL BURN 100 TIMES MORE THAN AYODHA KAND DUE TO VOILENCE AND MAYHEM- AND WONT RECOVER-MIND YOU WHEN BROTHERHOOD OF MUSLIMS HINDUS IF FUELLED WITH POISON OF HATE SEE WHERE IS ADVANI TODAY FOR HIS MISCHIEF AGAINST THE THE PERPETUAL EVERLASTING BROTHERHOOD OF THE HINDU AND MUSLIM BY WHICH EVEN THE BRITISH WAS AFRAID WHEN THEY STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TO FACE THEIR BULLETS-AND TYRANNY-
Going by your argument Gujrat should have seen lot of violence since 2002. But it has not. So chill out. India is not going to burn in violence if Modi comes to power. In fact it will be much more peaceful and safe. Modi destroyed several temples in Ahemdabad to make roads, he doesnt care for Hindu or Muslim, he cares for development.
Rubbish
I totally agree with author that our politicians has change the definition of “secularism” & “communal” to fit their political agenda (vote bank politics).
We have to take one more thing in to account here, people of gujarat are not fools to elect Mr. Modi for three terms & he has proved that their decisions were not wrong. He has worked with the same system & has delivered the results, so you need good administrator to make change.
So I’ll do my part by voting for Mr Modi in 2014 election, to do some good for my country, irrespective of what pseudo-secularist has to say…….
very well written and well researched!totally convincing as well!why not publish it in the news paper?everyone truly deserves to read your point of view!
shobhana
excellent, correct informative presentation !congates !looking to the world population, the % of hindu population is < other non-hindus , y e t these rulers and ruiners (few decades ago ) are treated with the benifits of minorities !!! MERA BHARAT MAHAAN !!
Well, my counterview on this-
1. we are on the way to become a failed state is entirely false.
in fact, we are one of emerging powers.
2. agree with minority appeasement, politicization etc
3. without the adm complicity the riots cant go on for 2
months! and our judiciary is very slow. wait for kodnani to spill
the beans..
4. comparing one communal riot with another beats logic. two
wrongs dont make a right.
5. guj govt hasnt pushed for death sentence to kodnani,
bhajarangi etc. if thats not intereference, then what is?
6. just cuz 1984 riot perpetrators have not been convicted,
does that mean guj riot perpetrators should also be set free?
7. when you are wondering whether you’ll be alive or not, you
cant think abt dev- thats what the minorities in guj go through
8. agree with distorted defn of secular but hate for other
religions is a big no.
9. secularism is one of our founding principles- author is trying
to distort history by saying medival period was muslim rule
10. hindu being majority, should be accomodative of others
interests. he cant ignore minorities as ours is democracy and
not a hindu republic.
11. 2002 riots are not easy to wash away.
12. integrity impeccable? please.. this is false.
13. agree he is a good administrator
14. author says, ” He is arrogant, does not
allow a second rung of leadership to emerge, brooks no
opposition, is impatient and authoritative, is not a
consensus builder”. thats right. but if a leader doesnt have
such qualities, it can only be beginning of dictatorship.
modi is being projected as a solution to all our problems.
solving those problems is not easy. One single man cant solve all our problems.we need somebody who
goes by consensus, patient, takes everyone’s views. For which, Modi obviously doesnt suit.
I must compliment the writer for so beautifully delineating the picture. His views are unbiased and critically analyzed. I think, there is a wave in favour of Modi, who is synonymous with development. Many youths of India identify with his agenda. His only hurdle is his own party, mainly the haggardly gerontocrats- Adwani and MM Joshi.
He is a no non-sense professional and believes in delivery of the action. He believes not in acts but in action.
Let’s hope Modi gets a chance.
LK
This article by Mr. Shukla is truly thought provoking and articulated in an immaculate fashion.
I wish to add to this crusade: Vote Modi if you love India and wish to see it grow as only he as its PM can ensure sustainable growth in all the streams
Congress has ruled for more than 50 years now, if they are really secular and supporting the poor by giving education, facilities, freebies, etc by now two generations of those poor would have been here to support congress. I am still not able to relate the interest free loans to farmers, free laptops to the upbringing of these section of societies. India still has poverty at its peak
I would say, Modi is one reason for me to ensure that I vote this time and motivate others to vote in his favour
Commendable writing…..
I am also a GujaratI and agree with the fact that minorities are more happier here than elsewhere in India.Plus I wld like to state that yes Temple have been wrought down to construct roads.This is what he stands for.I will do what is correct and f… you if you think otherwise.
Having lived in Gujarat through the famine and the floods, through the earthquake and the riots I can affirm this without any apprehensions – Gujarat is a model for progress, Mr. Modi is the leader who with his clear vision steer our country to great heights and as you rightly said – he is THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE!
It is high time for a change in government and unless BJP gets a majority, it will be difficult even for an outstanding leader like Modi to perform.
Therefore, all efforts must be made by people like you and me to get people to vote for the BJP
Dear Mr. Shukla, I found your article extremely thought provoking because it is not just an emotional outburst but an analytical, well-reasoned expression of your opinions. It perhaps reflects a lot of what people like me think – I don’t usually take a deep interest in politics or political movers and shakers. However, poor governance and decision making has been impacting even people like me, pushing us to be better informed and try to be involved in the nation-building process in whatever small way we can. I especially related to your concluding remarks and agree that Modi deserves a chance. He appears to have the qualities of a good leader – a CEO of our nation if you will – who can be decisive and action-oriented.
Excellent analysis and sound reasoning. As one currently traveling in US for a few months, I confirm the sickening feeling of the disapora and the strong disapproval of our economic management among business circles. India is fast slipping among the peer nations, many of them like Brazil, showing commendable resolve to tackle emerging issues. It is pathetic to see our cabinet ministers rushing to West every now and then ‘to confirm India’s commitment to reforms’, which are seen as hollow and insincere. We badly need leaders who are not self-seekers, who can envision to tap into our vast strengths and take accountability for executing action plans. Modi fits this requirement admirably, and if this is against the background of ‘Hindu-ness’, we should all be proud about it as the inheritors of the 5000-year old civilization.
The article is an eye opener for fence sitters. But the problem is, such articles do not percolate below the educated and middle class. And they are the people who decide the result of a poll. They are so gullible, they are carried away by promises of freebies and they are easily made to believe that cast is more important than casting a vote to the right person. That is how some unworthy people and parties come to power.
The first paragraph in Charles Dickens “A Tale of Two Cities” reads as follows: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”
The first paragraph in the present article by Avay Shukla whom I am reading for the first time ever, reads similar to the one quoted above by Dickens. Mr. Shukla has reflected everything going through the minds of patriotic Indians in general and Hindus in particular, but they are helpless excepting cursing their lot; he has worded them so forthrightly that there is nothing more that can be added.
Thank you Mr. Shukla, it is people like you who give us the hope that their exists in our midst people in the English media who can and who do have the interests of their nation uppermost in their mind and heart! You give us hope. It is hope that has seen us through 800+200 years of alien rule. Thank you!
Propoganda writing.
All lies and made up figures. Has the RSS and BJP become so weak as to create a fake personality and promote him more than their own blood.
We deserve much more than this piece of and non-sense.
Check yesterdays newspaper, FDI in Maharashtra is 17 times that of Gujurat for 2012-13 and Gujurat is 6th.
Utter shame for this lies and hypocracy.
Fake personalities do not have a mention that the person is retired IAS officer retired in a particular year. Instead of saying fake check and then contradict.
An excellent article. The writer has lucidly expressed what I have been thinking. In my youth I never wanted to live abroad but looking at the dismal state of affairs in the country I am hoping my children get opportunities to live abroad. The present UPA has ruined the nation. I am sick of the so called Secular Hindus. They think Hindu bashing makes them secular. I am a born Hindu but I do not practice any rituals. I have friends from all religion. In fact religion does not play any role in my social life. So I am secular as any body. However the latest definition of secularism is being anti Modi. If one appreciates any thing about Gujarat ,then you are branded as communal. One can be corrupt ,a cheater but it is okay with the large section of the so called liberals as long as one is anti Modi.I have lived through 1984 Sikh riots in Delhi. Congress was lucky that it was not the days of 24/7 news channel.I recall Bangladesh war hero General Aurora had to be protected by the army. But to our secular friends the only riots in India was in 2002
Dear Sir,
All i can say..may god bless all of us , now this is the matter of justice to our country and country man..every single vote ll work as a blood drop for our motherland in 2014 election.
Hoping for the best.
Thanks a lot sir.
Regards
Bksingh
Very well written and facts presented excellently. I hope you keep writing about more such topics which ale our country.
Your title is grammatically incorrect. It should be either ‘Why I shall support Modi in 2014″ or “Why shall I support Modi in 2014?”.
Bit childish. Looking at grammer when country is in a mess.
Lately, I have been witnessing a phenomena where certain comments have been extremely acerbic towards Modi and contain random figures re cited to defy any kind of pro-Modi opinion. This also coincides with hyper internet centric activity in Congress, elevation of Maken and demotion of Digivijaya Singh. Though these comments can pass-off as mildly logical, but they are so negative that you can see through these to understand the propaganda of Congress.
Only jaundiced eyes will fail to discern the well orchestrated nefarious design of Modi baiters to carry on a vicious propaganda against NaMo. Congress leaders and their ilk would soon realise much to their chagrin the futility of their onslaught on Modi.Indian voter is not so naive and gullible. I, for one, know many of my friends who have always voted for Congress and are going to vote for BJP this time around.
The only hope as of now.. Wish the people in this country realise it in time…
Governance is all about execution and precisely all others are lacking the same..
Mr. Avay Shukla, I don’t talk about the stats,will just tell u the seen differences. I belong to rajasthan, but residing at Gujarat since last 4 years and my condition is dat I can’t think of leaving guj. ever. I kno the difference what a powerfull and dedicated person can make. here “Sakshat Lakshmi” dwells, so many job oppurtunities are there. rather I tell u current status is dat people don’t have to migrate to other states. and our condition is dat even if we wann to we don’t have any earning source to return to our state.
also the “Dry State” rule makes Guj. so safe dat I never felt afraid to go alone anytime, which I never felt at my native place. I my husband, we a “common, middle- class man” are very happy in his Rajya. we are very happy by the progress Guj. has made. I am not supporting B.J.P, I am supporting a person who can make the development what our country is yearning to since years. dat’s why SUPPORT N. MODI.
Over a period of time by electing the same people to Vidhan Sabha or Lok Sabha, we are electing Autocrats not Democrats.
we really need change, now it is not about Congress or BJP or Third front but the one who can better run this country.
I hope every one in the country is wanting CHANGE
Respected Shukla sir, Which is the real Gujrat ? Shining bldgs of Ahmedabad,Running expensive cars, Shining malls,Apartments,Glass beeded Ghagra Cholies,Law Garden’s Aawajahi,Or Dediyapada block where SC/ST people’s (Phul jaisi) daughters r compelled to sold for d fulfillment of their necessities of life, or Padra block where SC/ST women r not allowing by Autorikshaw driver n r compelled to walk 8 kilometers for bringing vegetables or Jashpur where Native Aadiwasi women sold n sent to the big cities for flesh trade. Is this the definition of PROGRESS ?
Gujrat govt. planned one “Adhyayan”, in which roots of untouchability proved, n it is not published. why ? Cause according to govt. it endangers the social harmony.The people of south n north Gujarat r saying Sardar Sarovar is hardly 32 km. from here but they can’t get a single drop of water, schools r made as d factory of unemployees.no business, no water, no electricity, roads r made for companies. Why MODI SIR’s progress not reaching these south n north belts of Gujrat ? Is this the Poverty reduction % in Gujrat ? Why the GDP increase not at all concerns with the SC/ST people ? Are they not the sons n daughters of this land ?
Even if we forgive Mr. Modi for train burn n 2002 riots, we can’t neglect the ground reality of today’s Gujrat.
Sunanda ji, I am an SC and I will support Narandra Modi.we as a community dont need others to voice opinions and comments on our behalf, we are quite capable of doing it ourselves.cheers Shounak.
Without getting into the plethora of statistics, let me share a few things that I have heard and experienced first hand in Gujarat. It has definitely got one of the most advanced infrastructure in India. Being from Technical education industry I can vouch that with Maharashtra, Gujarat has become most dynamic is engineering and science education. It’s definitely one of the most safest places for women. One business associate from South India whose been in Anand for close to 5 years now shared that he would never think of leaving Gujarat for the kind of growth opportunities presented to him as well as the safety offered to his family (Wife, daughter) and himself. The instances are numerous: taxi/auto drivers from across religions ..yes Muslims as well who feel that the state haven’t shown the kind of promise it has under Mr. Modi. To sum it up, you speak to anyone from a clerk, doctor, teacher, bureaucrat, driver, etc. all want Modi back as a Chief Minister year after year. Is this something which is debatable…
sri shukls should have his credentials printed on top of the article, so that people should be lured to read the article, thinking that it is written by a responsible and learned person and is writing with an authority. his eobservations with analysis are remarkable.
The author in common with most Indians, propagates a false figure of 2000 Muslims killed in the 2002 Gujarat riots. The govt of India (UPA) figures given in parliament in 2005 are a total of 1044 people (790 Muslims and 254 Hindus) killed and 233 Hindus/Muslims missing. At least the educated and thinking Indians should learn not to shoot themselves in the foot by mindlessly using false figures.
Remarkably analysed. This should be sent to all the citizens of India so that they can find for themselves what is the right thing to do. My wholehearted support to Mr.MODI as PM. Only when this happens can we dream of India emerging strong after the total mis-governance of the sleeping,silent,blind and the remote controlled present PM.May GOD enlighten all the citizens and see that they become the vehicle for Change and moving forward.
It’s has almost become a fashion for so-called elites to claim that even though they accidentally happened to born Hindus, they have never visited a temple in last 2000 years because such and such and such reason.. What did the pundits do to you in a mandir? You may go to any corner mandir in your locality and don’t even need to talk to a pundit.. It’s not a pundit is sitting as a gatekeeper and you need to bribe him or what not..
You may support Modi but just because you happen to disappointed so thoroughly. It’s an opportunistic support. The moment you may see something good happening on the other side even remotely, even though nothing may be wrong on this side, you would switch your loyalty again..
When Vajpayee ran an examplery government, he did with the help of whole BJP leadership, which included all the people, who you call the baggage..
The article in most part is very well written & balanced. There are a few issues though which still cast a doubt in the minds of most well meaning Indians-Hindus. It would appear that Muslims outside Gujrat may not be so convinced as to vote for Modi. In fact,there is an apprehension that Muslim politicians in general might take a line to support a candidate who is likely to defeat BJP so that it does not cross the magical figure of 200 to enable NaMo to muster the required 272 for NDA2. The corruption issue in Gujrat has two question marks. There are a no of cabinet colleagues of NaMo indicted for corruption. The Lokayukta story also casts a doubt on the integrity aspect of governance. However,as the author points out,there seems to be no other viable alternative. Even NaMo so far has not appeared as a viable alternative & as he concedes that at the end of the day,even he might fail. But,it would appear that he is the only light at the end of the tunnel. 2014 is still a few months away & God may be kind to India to make it possible during this period to make it a reality. May God bless India.
You have not mentioned about the Aam Admi Party. I understand they are new to the game but they promise solution to India’s biggest problem – Corruption. What is your view about them.
Aam Aadmi Party is promising but too late in the day to make any national impact in 2014 elections. If they can unseat Sheela Dixit(Congress) in Delhi state elections & form a government with Arvind Kejriwal as CM,it would be a great beginning & achievement for them. Perhaps,for 2014, as pointed out by Avay Shukla,there is no alternative. If NaMo eventually becomes PM in 2014,it would be interesting to watch whether AAP can keep him in check or as Namo’s opponents criticise him as fascist,he is able to annihilate all opposition including AAP. Another promising person to join AAP is Yogendra Yadav.
Fantastic article.Please awaken INDIAN youth to cast there votes for more needed change. I, personally think total BJP victory is required to let Mr. Modi govern with proper governace.
I think present Government failed to fulfill our basic requirements & they have no proper direction which ensure our growth in all aspects. I here about Mr. Modi sir, their positive attitude can survive us from present bad situation.
If Modi is the best why so much opposition from his own party that too from LK Advani, MM Joshi, Sushma, Chauhan,Raman Singh all greats in their own rights.Is it not big propaganda that pushed Modi to the front since MP,Chattisgarh and many other states in India has better development index than Modi who ruled one of the most prosperous states of India. The great poverty reduction in Gujrat more due to Narmada Sarovar projects than due to any great government involvement. Having said all this I agree we have no alternative.A sad state of affairs. We have to grid up to face more communal violence bomb blast etc once Modi is in the throne
Just to provide some data point for UPA Corruption. Just have a look at ‘A Little Book on Massive Corruption” here: http://www.research4nation.org/english.html
Some misguided Christians say that the present day earthquakes , lightnings , wars etc are all signs of the end of the world. Similarly rantings of Modi ” inflation , fallen rupee , breakdown of law n order etc etc etc .” these are and will always be happening at all times and so it is pure Rhetorics. that everyone already know..
Agree with the author that Hindus are Secular , I will add that both our Muslims as well as Hindus are most Secular BUT the parties claiming this are anything but Communal.
So what we Indians have to decide is are you going to vote for a proven Communal party and plunge the existing communal harmony
chaos and make it impossible for you and me who are living in peace within the existing discord created by these communal parties .
So what extra discord did the BJP create when it got into power at the center?
Your point about inflation, fallen rupee, breakdown of law and order etc holds for communal tendencies too – once in power both major parties behave pretty much the same way in this respect too.
So now, why not give the other party a chance? And the party that has reigned for most of our independent existence a kick where it hurts? They both deserve these kickings time to time – and the voter should give it to the incumbent this time!
Avay,
I agree with your analysis and article.
To discuss one other option – I like the Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal. I believe they are honest people and intend to bring a change. However, people who like them / support them are all people who are completely fed-up of Congress mismanagement. Hence, all it will do is split the anti-congress vote thus supporting some more years of misrule. By themselves, they will not be anywhere near forming a Government.
Let Narendra Modi come to power. And then let AAP win some seats and keep him honest and in-check. I am all for it. But at the moment, I cannot support them simply because I do not want to inadvertently help Congress.
I agree with your prognosis about the AAP. Personally, I also feel that( in Delhi at least) the AAP may end up dividing the anti Congress vote, thereby helping the latter. This is bound to happen and its now too late to reverse this trend.The Plan B I am now hoping for is that the AAP ends up supporting the BJP to form the Govt-their presence would have a salutary effect and keep the BJP in line. The problem with this scenario is that, as elections get nearer, Kejriwal is getting too cocky and dreaming of forming the govt. himself!He is over-reaching himself and should realise that getting 18-20% of the votes within a year of forming a party is in itself a massive achievement, and he shouldn’t realistically hope to form a govt. so soon.He should accept a second fiddle role, and that too with the BJP and not Congress.He should look at the history of small parties who supported the Congress in the past- they all either get subsumed in the Congress or soon lose their distinct identities and are rendered irrelevant.
Well you were thankfully wrong! 🙂
Don’t under estimate the power of the common man!
You were proved wrong!
Avay, why do you assume Modi will fail? He has not failed in Gujarat, and that is the only yardstick you can use. For some stupid reason, all of us seem to be playing ‘safe’. Modi….. maybe…… but? Tell me one thing – where has the 3 generations of the Nehru family taken us? Nowhere I would say. We have given them over 50 years of opportunity, and it is time they be locked away for good.
Everyone talks about Modi being good. No one talks about the arrogance of the Nehru family and the collateral arrogance of every congressman. For them making money at any cost is the only mantra, and the country be dammed.
I am also not surprised you are not calling yourself a Hindu anymore. Tell me, will any other religion allow that? That is the beauty of Hinduism. It allows you to do anything you want. Get a little educated, and it becomes fashionable to curse the pundits and look down upon own religion. A religion and it’s culture is supposed to keep a society together. Unfortunately we are only too eager to reject our own culture thinking the grass is greener on the other side.
If we don’t act now, we will become a banana republic. You and I have to start carrying guns to protect ourselves. But don’t vote for Modi for a religion. Vote for him for the survival and subsequent growth of the country. All I want are good roads, power, and good communication. I want the airports to be tightened up. I want infiltration to be tightened up. I want China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri. Lanka to be put in their place. I want the economy to grow. I want the value of the rupee to go up. I want poverty to be eradicated. I want science and research to take root and explode. I want a Noble Prize and a large number of medals in sports. Believe me, the congress can never get any of these things done. Why? Simple because if they even think in those directions, their stranglehold will collapse. It suits them to keep us all poor and running round like headless chickens. They will start communal riots, they will set one caste against another. They will give away the money they have stolen from the country, and take a commission when they are doing that!
Seriously, even God cannot save us if they come back to power.
A very nice observation, Venkatraman. I hope Indians wake up and act decisively to put Congress out of its misery.
If not, Mr. Robert Vadra is waiting on the wings to loot the country again.
what AAP has demonstrated on ground within 20 days of governance is new beginning called ” Revolution indeed , Revolution at grass-roots and unique beginning of new revolution that history will share with future generations as victory of People ….
This can happen only in India ! — in spite of Congress and despite of BJP !!
Jai Ho ! Vande Mataram !!
Dear Mr Shukla, Has AAP given you reason to leave Narendra Modi? I read both your articles – this one and the one you wrote on AAP this week.
Would just like to clarify one point about the Muslims of Assam. The Bangladeshi Muslims are the ones living in relief camps because they were driven out of their homes by the indigenous people ( in this case the Bodos). The Assamese Muslims are a contented lot thank you! !
what avay shukla showed way out from congress misrule?
A very objective and analytical writeup. Now I can openly proclaim that I am a Hindu and I am not ashamed to say it; it is not going to make me ‘communal’.
A very good and well focused article by Shri Avay Shukla. You have certainly hit the point that we should go full steam ahead with manufacturing sector and discard the service sector. The Indian bureaucracy is so well entrenched that they ensure the service sector’s growth which in turn only produces a nation of clerks. It is these clerks who indulge in rampant corruption and power mongering and the Nehru-Gandhi group wallow in this comfort. If you look at 2G,Coalgate,Railgate etc., it is with the help of these clerks that the politicians of UPA have indulged in all sorts of plunder.
As for the AAP, this too is led by a former ‘clerk’ and therefore lacks vision. Although Shri Kejriwal is an IITian, having joined the Civil Service has pushed him back in his thinking. So instead of a sustainable manufacturing sector, he too thinks of clerks and corruption. His thinking will put India back by about 50 years. Rooting out corruption is most essential for this country, but this should be done only through Good Governance. Sitting on Dharnas has an evil cascading effect on economy, production and importantly on good governance.
When Shri Kejriwal came up with the idea of AAP, I thought that here is an alternative for the years of bad politicking. ‘Hope’ has been ground to dust with the manner in which Shri K has blindly supported his lieutenant Shri Bharthi which, as I look back, smacks of corruption in thought. Therefore, the seeds of corruption have already grown in AAP through their thinking, which is dangerous to society, just as other political parties are. Now, AAP cannot comment on the Congress backing Bansal or Chidambaram or PM as they had done what AAP is doing at present. Where is your morality?
Ultimately, I have to choose Shri Modi as the only alternative as PM. As for the charge that he is an autocrat this is not true as he always takes the views of his entire cabinet into confidence and trusts his staff.
Good artcle. I liked it. Im with Modi
my vote is for only Mr Modiji who can bring golden days of our country which Congress has failed in its duties we can feel and smell the growth of our country specially he has vision and guts to build strong relation with people he don’t play foul game like Congress what ever he commits he does it with great thrust
Very good article !!!
But we are sure if we select modi, we can not see worst situation than current situation. This is quite good feeling we are having now.
Do not select any candidate who made us to see this situation. We are shameless indian who cannot select a good people who will represent our nation.