Godhra
and aftermath.
Flashback to 27 Feb 2002. Godhra. When communal riots
broke out over burning of a compartment containing Karsevaks returning from
Ayodhya, by anti-social elements of a particular community. The Modi government
in power swung into an action hitherto unseen from political classes and
quelled them within barely 48 hours.
Other parties hoping to cash in politically on the riots and re-establish themselves
were left disappointed. Attempts to discredit started almost immediately with BJP
in power both in centre and state. Statements of reminding of ‘Raj Dharma’ by the then PM, Mr
Vajpayee to CM was reported widely even though there was is no clear evidence
to that effect. Number of deaths of the Muslim community too were over-reported
disproportinately. Hundreds became thousands and even ten-thousands and 2002 became symbol of Hindu
violence against peaceful Muslims for many, both within and outside the
country. Journalists could not have enough as report after report threatened to
almost destabilise the state and nation. This was despite riots being
controlled in a record time and police being allowed almost a free hand to
suppress rioters, regardless of political or religious affiliation.
Role
of Sanjiv Bhatt.
Sanjiv Bhatt, IPS became the hero of
those seeking to expose Modi for his actions / inactions during the 2002 riots
as he willingly volunteered damning evidence. His statement of being present in a meeting where the CM
asked police to “go slow” on rioteers and allow them to vent their anger came
as a shot in the arm. His word was treated as gospel truth while those of
others who stated with equal conviction that Mr Bhatt was never present in any
meeting and therefore could not have had access to any of Modi’s statements was
treated with the contempt they felt it deserved. They were called using the
choiciest epithets. After all, could anyone who willingly supported Modi’s
actions be anything but biased?
Two
Commissions of enquiry – varied outcomes.
In the meanwhile, UPA came to power
and Lalu Yadav became Railway Minister. He set up an inquiry committee headed
by Justice UC Banerjee to
look into the train fire. Mr Justice Banerjee’s report stated that the
compartment was never set on fire and instead happened to self combust as a
result of either combustible material being carried by the Karsevaks catching
fire automatically or accidently. This report was tomtommed by the seculars who
rubbished the theory of the bogie being burnt. That the Gujarat government had
set up the Justice Nanavati Commission on 6 Mar 2002 to probe the riots including the train fire
and that the Gujarat police had come to the conclusion of arson did not bother
them and instead, treated it as attempts of a hateful leader to whitewash own
sins. The findings of Justice Banerjee were challenged in Gujarat HC by Mr
Neelkanth Bhatia one of the injured. The HC not only quashed the commission
findings but also state unequivocally that the report was not to be tabled in
Parliament.
Teesta
Setalvad.
Even as Sanjiv Bhatt was running amok, the
opposition got a shot in the arm in form of Ms Teesta Setalvad, a self styled supporter of the riot victims.
She stepped forward to challenge the clean chit which Modi had supposedly given
himself and set up an NGO to look
after rights of riots affected, even though it finally meant only those from
the Muslim community. Media again played its role in raising her to super-woman
status and her fight compared to David v/s Goliath. Within a few months, truth
started trickling out about how Teesta had been misappropriating funds
accumulated and spending them on herself, including business class air travels and such personal stuff like sanitary pads, all of which were reflected as business expenditure. Teesta now
has her back to the wall as cases of cheating and misappropriation reaches its
natural conclusion with only SC standing between her and prison. That she was
granted a last minute reprieve against implementation of a NBW of Guj HC by an unusual urgent telephonic hearing by SC also speaks volumes of the hold she
has.
Cut to 2014, with Sonia Gandhi led-UPA II reeling
under charges of corruption
and the Modi-led BJP making a strong pitch for winning general elections. The
desperation seen on the faces of journalists was extremely evident and report after report, tweet after tweet revealed it
for the world to see. They warned of how the very concept of India would be destroyed if Modi came to power.
2002 was quoted in plenty to show how minorities
would suffer greatly as a result of Congress being voted out.
Corruption, which had been on the front pages for a long time suddenly was
delegated to the backburner. The press even highlighted with extreme glee the
differences of opinions among the BJP of making Mr Modi the Prime Ministerial
candidate for the 2014 elections including so-called opposition from Advani,
Joshi and Sushma to buttress their case.
Having failed miserably to even make a dent
in Gujarat BJP prospects despite all out efforts, this attempt was seen as a
last ditch effort to ensure that they succeed in at least restricting Mr Modi
to Gujarat. The absence of even a whiff of corruption which would stick was excruciating
news to these presstitues. 2014 elections was seen as a watershed in Indian
politics as Mr Modi, who had, by then been elevated to PM candidate by the NDA,
appeared like a Tsunami, flattening his opponents one by one. His election
rallies created a buzz unseen for a long time with other leaders’ rallies
appearing drab in contrast. Rahul Gandhi’s attempts to campaign provided more
laughs than anything else and to be fair to him, he too contributed his bit in
strengthening NDA’s campaign trail.
16 May 2014 saw the NDA romp home with a
majority which even the most generous exit poll did not predict. Such was the
impact of ‘TsuNamo’ that Congress was wiped out in most states and ended up
with not even being eligible for Leader of Opposition status in the LS. Mr Modi, who was widely
predicted immediately after election results were declared as someone might
tackle domestic affairs but would fail miserably when it came to foreign
affairs surprised one and all with his tactical move of inviting SAARC leaders
for his swearing in ceremony. The grand affair was attended by all of them,
including the Pak PM, and was agreed as an unqualified success, even amongst
his detractors.
His detractors however were not expected to
remain silent especially since assembly elections which were held thereafter
also established the credentials of BJP as the leading national party while the
Congress got wiped out in almost all. Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan
followed each other in quick succession with the BJP proving that the 2014 win
was no flash in the pan. Delhi, which had seen a near crisis with the Congress
withdrawing support for the AAP and the BJP not staking its claim, went for fresh
elections thereafter. Media, which had been rendered quiet after the various
BJP victories went into overdrive in an attempt to stop the Modi juggernaut.
They adopted the axiom of “All is fair in love and war” and declared open war
on the PM. Suddenly, a spate of attacks on churches got highlighted all around
the country, in states that were bound for elections. If it was church attacks which
helped AAP romp to victory, it was the Dadri
incident which helped Lalu & Co in their quest for victory in
Bihar. With everyone including Congress and even AAP pitched against Modi,
defeat was more or less inevitable.
Defeat in the Bihar elections suddenly
resulted in the opposition becoming resurgent. The Congress which had been
licking its wounds after the mauling in 2014 elections seemed to have found its
feet once more. Both houses of Parliament were stalled for reasons which were
outside the domain of either house. Bills which would have ensured greater ease
of governance were stalled merely to satisfy Madam’s desires. The media too
played along as channels climbed over each other to prove how bad BJP leaders
were. If it was Lalit Modi’s alleged links with Rajasthan CM initially, DDCA
corruption was the next. AAP proved its credentials of throwing muck without
evidence and media lapped and played and replayed every word. Not one reporter
found it worthwhile to even question the allegations. Why would they when being
anti-Modi was so lucrative. 526 crores certainly was well spent by Mr Kejriwal!
End of Part I
