Democracy is all about convincing people. Congress convinced Muslims that they are their only saviour, without doing much for them. When the SC/ST reservations were planned, they didn't consider them as they were unchallenged. Now, when they are out of UP,BIHAR and majority of states, their vote bank is robbed by Mulayam & Lalu, they started talking - "Minorities have the first claim to resources" and Sachar Report. I wouldn't blame Muslims to be sided with Congress or Mulayam/Lalu because some of their genuine apprehensions about Sangh Parivar outfits.
After Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, India entered coalition era and regional parties redefined their strategies to side with NDA or UPA. A strategic front called UPA is formed to fight against 'Communal forces'. As long as they were winning few battles in some states and losing some - that was still Ok for them. Now, what has changed ? The emergence of Narendra Modi as a charismatic and popular leader, who directly convinced people across states - "BJP is for both Nationalism and Regional Pride" with development as automatic bonus package. The People of Gujarat heard both Modi and Sonia - rejected Sonia decisively.
Mr. Karan Thapar's article is a hollow article as it showcases UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi and ignores the very basic facts, why Hindus distanced themselves from Congress ? It is exactly the same apprehensions, why Muslims distanced from BJP.
Where was Karan Thapar ,when the terrorist master mind Afzal Guru is still protected by Congress to save J&K Government and its minority vote bank. Congress party had deserted Nationalism long back and that led to rise of 'Sangah Parivar' outfits. No Congress PM withstood American pressure to do the nuclear test. A first time BJP PM did. Now, they fear that, state after state Moditva, a modified version of Hindutva will incite Hindu sentiments and reject the pseudo-secular forces. In a majority country, no political party should have appeased minorities, in fact there is no need of any minority institutions, minority commissions or SC/ST commissions etc. The National Human Rights Commission should have been enough. Were Muslim Minorities victim of POTA ? No - 'Minority Criminals' were booked using POTA ;their numbers are high because of well known reason - Jihad/Terror. Do they think that public is blind ? - You open any news paper, there will be few terror events involving Muslim criminals. Why Congress Party is believing that the majority Muslims support the Muslim Criminals and by repealing POTA , it can win the Muslim Vote Bank ? The Congress party has lost its mental balance and always hurt the sentiments of majority.
Result: It is losing its base. Its cadres can't convince even a child, if asked "Why Afzal Guru is not hanged ?" - no one will be convinced that the President is busy with so many files that, it might take 7 years to reject his mercy petition.
This article in Hindustan Times is not definitely by the same Karan Thapar, who is famous for his difficult or unpleasant questions to politicians; this Karan Thapar is hinting to eliminate Modi, a democratically elected leader Modi, by whatever method. To me it appears that he is instructing terrorists to act and eliminate to safe Guard panic Communists and Congress. This is a saddest day in democracy, when an eminent journalist with reputation is talking like Osama-Bin-Laden.
Can Congress still win this war ?
YES. They should act wisely and demonstrate their neutrality - quit the appeasement policy, own the existence of Lord Ram and say publicly that Mr. Karunanidhi was wrong. Hang Afzal Guru immediately and arrange subsidy for Mt. KAILASH/MANSAROBAR pilgrims (similar to Haj), protect Taslima, bring back POTA to demoralize terrorists, discourage/ban religious conversions. Jesus can like people, who is a Hindu - so why encourage the people who talk about a Hindu heaven and Christian heaven ?If Jesus hates Hindus than he may not be a son of god or prophet. Let Hindus worship the idol of Jesus beside the idol of Ram.Why they have to give up their religion because of quick heaven promise ? This must end.
This is the democratic way to counter Sangh Parivar, by winning the confidence of people, not by removing (assassinating) Modi; I hope Mr. Karan Thapar is blinded by 'Soniatva' and hence want the quicker approach. He didn't realise that "नरेन्द्र मोदी एक आदमी हैं और मोदीत्वा एक सोच"
Sonia Gandhi is no match for Modi, in any respect. She is like a queen, who inherited a dynasty and can't even debate on various issues with a college student. In spite of oratory talents Hillary Clinton, a former first lady is almost rejected by their party people. The best talent, best startegist and best orator from Congress party should be leading the party, who is capable of facing a face-to-face debate with Mr. Advani or Mr. Modi. A shy Sonia with a written speech can't save Congress.
After reading his article, he is no more the Karan Thapar, whom I always admired.
Here you go and don't forget to Vote.
Narendra Modi’s stunning victory will change Indian politics decisively, perhaps dramatically, possibly desperately. I have no doubt it’s a turning point. Actually, it will amount to several turning points. For the Congress and for the Left, just as much as for the BJP and the NDA.
First the BJP. Nothing has galvanised the party so comprehensively since Advani’s rathyatra of 1989, imbuing it with a sense of hope, even a sense of purpose. In Modi, the BJP has discovered three elements it was anxiously searching for — leadership, issues to stand for and the first hope that it can win a majority on its own.
Of course, Advani will continue as its prime ministerial candidate, but Modi is the future. The succession is settled. No other second generation leader can match him. And as for the argument that Modi cannot take centrestage in Delhi because the NDA allies won’t accept him, the counter is that with Modi at the helm, the BJP could attempt to win on its own. The NDA may no longer be critical.
The key question is can Moditva work outside Gujarat? It depends on how you define it. If you believe it combines strong personal leadership and integrity, with an appeal to regional pride or robust nationalism — admittedly with strong communal undertones — and a stress on development, I see no reason why it can’t translate throughout the country. Even the fact that it alienates minorities is counterbalanced by the promise of uniting Hindus as never before. And if in Gujarat it could cut across divisions of caste, wealth and location, then it can hope to do so elsewhere as well.
Modi and Moditva is, therefore, the challenge facing the Congress, the UPA and the Left. I don’t deny it has to be fought ideologically, but that also calls for the projection of a single personality who, in herself, embodies the fight. She has to rival Modi’s appeal — both his magnetism and his myth — and symbolise the alternate vision.
Perhaps there is only one person who can do that. The pronoun ‘she’ was used deliberately. It’s Sonia Gandhi. It may be an irony that an Italian-born woman, a widow who till 1998 detested politics, should transform into one of the twin poles of Indian politics, but it could also be an inescapable fact. No other person from the anti-BJP parties has the appeal or the nation-wide image to rival Modi.
Of course, Sonia has a lot to learn. Amongst the most important is the capacity to articulate ideas that catch like fire, and the ability to sell herself to the India beyond the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. At the moment she provokes curiosity or, perhaps, awe. Now she needs to create a following.
For the rest of us, voters rather than politicians, commentators but not participants, we also have to make a critical choice. We can either accept the idea of Modi and Moditva and adapt and adjust to it, or overcome our concerns with the Gandhi dynasty and Sonia in particular, and join the fight she must lead.
If I’m right, the middle ground is shrinking, even disappearing. The emergence of a dominant idea on the saffron front and, in response, the creation of an equal but counterveiling force on the other will squeeze out everything else. The more Moditva grows, the more its opposite has to be strengthened. Increasingly the choice will be one or the other. We will have to take sides.
Where does this leave the regional parties and the Left? They may retain their identity, even their present base, but they will have to line-up behind Modi or Sonia, in the saffron camp or the liberal/secular one. They may even have to submerge themselves within the broad appeal of the camp they belong to.
Only the sudden removal of Narendra Modi can stop this. For he is the agent forcing this change. And whilst he’s with us, he will do just that. I have no doubt Indian politics after Sunday the 23rd is another country. We have to live with new challenges. Some of us have to accept new leaders.
HT Global Indian Poll : Can Congress win elections under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh and Ms. Sonia Gandhi ?
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