The NDA can be expanded to mean many things to many. In this self-styled National Democratic Alliance, ‘Democratic’ often means absolute anarchy in the ranks. To its external enemies addicted to minority vote banks, the ‘D’ is interpreted as ‘Demonic’. But to most observers, NDA is fast turning into a Naturally Defeatist Alliance!
Never had the nation been so disillusioned with the rulers as now. Inside Parli too, every bill or vote has been a potential regime-breaker. Yet, if despite such public revulsion and a shaky existence, the UPA has managed to last this long, the credit must go wholly to the BJP and it’s tenuous outer shell called the NDA! Indeed, as an alternative, it is either Notional, Distant or Absent! Even political self-interest appears to have departed. Really, looking at the way the Cong coalition has got away with every foul deed, you almost suspect some kind of collusion! Small wonder MSingh & Co deem Anna, Baba & Co as their main opposition!
It is in this context that Narendra Modi re-emerges on the political horizon with Nitish Kumar jumping the gun. But now that its hand has been forced, can’t the BJP make the most of it and come clean? Looks unlikely. Forget ally Nitish, there are enough roadblocks within the BJP itself for M’s candidature. Procrastination and pretensions of inner party democracy cannot hide this anti-Modi itch of many ‘top’ BJP leaders. This despite the Cong fearing Modi the most, he being the only one who can make a real fight of the next battle of the ballot that would decide Rahul’s fate. Putting down Modi would be the BJP’s greatest gift to Cong, something the saffron party is eminently capable of, given its suicidal instincts.
So, let the parivar keep pondering. But it is also time for we the prajas to weigh the pros and cons of ‘PM Modi’! No doubt, he comes with a huge baggage and a very assorted one at that. Does it contain gold and other goodies for a nation starved of hope or is it full of blood and sin as his critics claim? Can his visible virtues prevail over so-called vices as many neo-converts to Modi’s governance model now believe? Really, no other politician has hogged so much public limelight and evoked extreme emotions as he has. In fact, Modi’s candidature to the top job would even generate huge global interest owing to the auras of varying hues around him. After all, other nations cannot be denying visas to India’s PM just like that!
If the proof of the political pudding is in the performance at public office, Modi is the biggest success story in recent times. In a nation that is drowning in the cesspools of corruption, economic stagnation and administrative paralysis, Modi’s Gujarat is an island of hope. Here zero-tolerance to corruption does not mean winking at it on the sly, MSingh style, but uprooting it at the grassroot source. Practical policies and not petty populism have dictated economic measures. An agile administration, alive to the problems of the people, mocks at the Centre and many other States where the official machinery is corroding in disuse or moves only to serve those who grease it!
While it is argued that Gujarat has always been a progressive State, we know that politicians can screw up even the best. India is not Gujarat, goes another line. UPA’s India is at such a low that anything can only be better. The Blocks and Bhavans of Delhi can certainly do with some dose, even if it be small, of Modi’s integrity and admin skills. Is he a dictator as his detractors, within and without, accuse him of ? But are there not enough political and judicial checks on an efficient and straight autocrat but none whatsoever against an inept, corrupt ‘democrat’?
What remains is the ‘communal question’. Will Modi burn up all the minorities in the land once in power? The media loves to fan this bogey. I do not want to resort to morbid numerical comparisons because a human life can never be a statistical unit. But suffice to state that ever since 1947 the worst and bloodiest communal clashes have happened under the watch or with abetment of Cong Governments. No legal or political retribution has come its way. So, why are the media and self-styled secular glitteratti hounding Modi alone in such a grossly disproportionate manner? The answer is Modi defies their stereotype of an ideal Delhi leader, which is the glib-tongued, sophisticated, jargon-peddling, outwardly genial, morally easy and accommodating liberal of the Nehruvian mould. Modi is rustic, straight shooting, unpatronising, business-like and impatient of political pep talk or postures. Such a no-nonsense leader will be a jolt to the Capital’s power circuits and hence the urge to short circuit him!
The real ‘communal’ threats to India are Jihad, religious conversions and minority politics, not Modi. Still, the media has succeeded in making Modi a ‘communally’ polarising personality. So, if he were to be seen as a provocation, is it wrong also to look at him as a ‘deterrent’? Does not the secular tirade against M actually offer majority of citizens hope of a safer life under him, thus increasing his attraction? So what, if a few feel insecure? Should they have the veto on the nation’s security and a possibly prosperous future?
So, whatever the BJP or the Never Decisive Alliance eventually ‘decides’, people should soon make up their minds about him. Of course, it is wise to be skeptical and subject the seemingly scrupulous saviour to as much scrutiny as possible. Twice bitten by Honest Singh electorally, it pays to be many times shy. Modi himself is unlikely to fight shy of such tests.
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