Introduction: They are all trying to derive political advantage from the tragedy in Gujarat the real issues are sidelined. Political of all hues have only a one-point agenda: power
Should Mr. Narendra Modi stay or go? He has been biased in his attitude. He has brazenly declared that Ahmedabad was a reaction to Godhra. This means he thinks the massacre of members of the minority community is justified. He must be replaced. The situation will not improve unless he is thrown out. He must be held responsible for the atrocities committed by Hindus. He has not cared to bring even basic relief to the riot-affected people. They are all suffering in make-shift relief camps. Imagine having just a dozen lavatories for a thousand people. And no drinking water. And the government is partial with regard to the distribution of compensation. According to a Muslim, in one of the relief camps in Ahmedabad, an injured Muslim gets Rs. 1000 and a Hindu gets Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000. And a leading newspaper takes his claim as gospel truth. The paper's man does not come to verify facts. That's what a large number of English newspapers have been doing: spreading false reports, comment by some individual and asking Mr. Modi to go.
TDP resolution
Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, a solid supporter of the NDA is perturbed a great deal. The Telugu Desam passes a resolution which says Mr. Modi must go. The MPs from his party are joining the opposition in parliament in creating cacophony and chaos. The poor deputy speaker is desperate. MPs must have an intellectual approach, not stage boxing bouts. We will not let parliament go on until there is a vote on the debate. The opposition thinks Telugu Desam, Trinamul Congress, JD-U will join in voting against the government. The opposition thinks the issue will help it topple the government. They are seizing this chance. Mr. Chandrababu Naidu does not clarify whether he will withdraw support to the government or not. Later on, he gets a face-saving chance. It is agreed that there will be no elections in Gujarat. That was one of the demands of Mr. Naidu.
In the meanwhile, fearing a threat, the BJP makes a big surprise. The central leaders tell the state unit in UP to make an arrangements with Mayawati's BSP. She has 14 members in parliament. Her support would also ensure backing for the BJP's selection for the Presidential post. Leaders in UP are far from happy. To expect Rajnath Singh for work under Mayawati is too much. They must be all sulking. Ms. Mayawati will become chief minister for the third time. Lucky woman. That's what politics is all about.
And Ms. Mamata Banerjee wears an injured look these days. She was seen on TV with her hair undone. And she says: “President's rule must be imposed in Gujarat.”
The BJP says President's rule will never be imposed. How can we do it? We did not impose President's rule in Tamil Nadu when Ms. Jayalalitha asked us to do so. She was a partner then in our alliance. Even then we did not take any action against the DMK. All politicians opposed us when we suggested President's rule for Bihar when a situation prevailed there in which there was neither law nor order. And Ms. Mamata Banerjee wanted us to replace the Marxist rule in West Bengal with President's rule. Indira Gandhi was, when she was prime minister, notorious in this regard. At the slightest provocation, she would enforce central rule in opposition ruled states. We will never be unjust and unfair like the Congress.
How can Mr. Modi be replaced? What right has the centre to do that. He is an elected leader, elected by the majority party in the assembly. How can the centre ask him to go?
The so-called secular politicians are ganging up. They are worried. If possible, they would like to grab Gujarat - hanging the chief minister after giving him a bad name. Gujarat is Mahatma Gandhi's birth place. The Congress alone has the right to rule.
But there was another man who was born in Gujarat. He was a great man. He did not see eye to eye with Mahatma Gandhi on several issues. There was hardly any rapport between him and secular Nehru.
Sardar Patel championed the cause of Hindutva. He was however sidelined –by Jawaharlal Nehru.
It is amazing how politicians know that a certain time is ripe for holding elections. Mr. Narendra Modi thinks this is a suitable time to hold elections. He wanted to dissolve the assembly and seek fresh elections. He seems to know that he will get solid backing and the BJP will emerge with a big majority. There must be some substance in his calculations. The Gujarat people seem to be satisfied with his performance.
Human problem
The Congress is dead set against elections in Gujarat. It is also quite amazing how the party knows it does not have a ghost of a chance. It invented excuses: there is no law and order. Gujarat is in ruins. There can be no election now.
Mr. Narendra Modi did not seem to have reckoned with the opinion of the Election Commissioner when he announced elections.
What if he decides that normalcy should first return to Gujarat first?
Mr. Narendra Modi must have had second thoughts on the subject. He changed his mind. There will be no elections now.
He has embarked on an exercise to prove that all is well in Gujarat.
Result: SSC-HSC examinations were held. Now, does that not prove everything is okay in the state? The government claimed that 93 per cent of students appeared for the examinations. A large number of Muslims attended the examination.
Mr. Narendra Modi has provided solid proof no. 1.
The opposition parties however do not think it is a success. There was a boycott by some Muslim organisations. A Muslim woman was singled out and her adverse observation was published in newspapers.
Even the holding of an examination
has become a political issue.
Gujarat has become a political
issue.
They are all trying to get political mileage out of the tragic situation in Gujarat.
Nobody is bothered about that orphaned child in a relief camp. Nobody cares a damn for the mother who has been burnt alive before her unbearably painful eyes. Nobody, thinks of the horror committed in Godhra, in Ahmedabad. There is a human problem to be tackled. There are people in distress-men women and children. For the sins committed by a few maniacs in Godhra, they are all made to suffer.
What is important for our politicians - of all hues - is power game. That is the only thing that motivates them.
They really could not care less
if Gujarat keeps burning. Actually it is an advantage for them to play
a diabolical merciless game.