Who has taken the bait, Tharoor or Congress?

When Prime Minister Modi invited Shashi Tharoor for his dream project Swatch Bharath Abhiyan, many guessed it as bait. When Tharoor accepted the challenge, observers commented that he has taken the bait. The Sunanda Pushkar episode has put him in a great difficulty, and now BJP in power, he has to be extra careful. Even if he is so innocent in the incident, the ruling party with its control over CBI can do a lot of damage to Tharoor’s political career. So, it is quite normal for anybody to assume that Tharoor was trapped by Modi. However, it is clear that Modi is not just aiming Tharoor alone, but the whole Congress itself; see how Congress leadership, especially the KPCC reacted against Tharoor’s praise of Modi. Their image is declined and was criticized for being narrow minded. When the prime minister is taking an initiative to improve the country, why the ‘opposition’ is trying to find only negatives? In other words, by taking disciplinary action against Tharoor, it is the Congress Party which has taken the bait. I would say, even Tharoor scored well in the challenge with his good response.

The West Wind- Will it Destroy India?

The entire media and people are now frenzied to support Narendra Modi, the new icon in India, the new middle class driven India who favors industrialization, technical development coupled with a strong fundamentalist Hinduistic notions. Why I am against Modi? It is because several reasons. Or rather I am not against Modi because I don't know Modi personally. But I am afraid of this media which celebrate this man. I don't think that the media, literary figures and such so called independent people will check everything objectively and come out with their findings. Someone who has gone through the nature of Indian media would easily find out the media people will stand with those who are successful and celebrate them. The same is the case with Modi. Or in other way, he is successful in wooing the media with the support of effective media managers. But media is a double edged weapon I would say. They don't have any specific commitment other than for money. If you think the media spend their pages with praises for Modi do those things because of their love for Modi, or for India's development( as he is celebrated as an icon of development) or for their commitment to the Hindutva. Not at all. It is simple, they can sell him than Rahul Gandhi; means the market value of Modi is higher than Rahul. The moment they see the market value decreasing, they will start throwing stones instead of roses.

Then, you may ask this market value of Modi itself shows Modi has more supporters in the grass root level and more Indians wanted to see him as the next PM. As I said earlier, I don't have any specific reasons to feel hatred towards Modi, it is his supporters I detest the most because I could see those who support Modi are against secularism, about the basic concepts of equality and justice. These are the things I dread most. When they speak of Muslims, or of Christians, you can see their tongue changing venomous. If anybody thinks India is the sole property of Hindus and all others have to live here under the mercy of Hindus, it is dangerous than being wrong. This claim is both historically and logically wrong. So, the victory of Modi will in a way toll the death bell of the democratic system in India.

If I come back to the praises that Modi gets from the media, I am less afraid. It is a double edged weapon as I said earlier. Once Modi receives a trivial set back or his media managers fail to satisfy them, they will fight back more fiercely than ever. Even then, I would say I am a little bit upset about the language that I could see in the newspapers. It is sillier than the old panegyrics used by old poets to praise the kings and queens. It is just “Deepasthambham Mahascharyam, Namukkum Kittanam Panam”, as told by Kunchan Nambiar. Even then, when we associate the Fourth Estate with higher claims of objectivity and read newspapers columnists refer Modi as the West Wind which will change India to a better future, I feel nervous. I simply could not digest it( read http://www.firstpost.com/politics/theres-a-wild-west-wind-blowing-and-his-name-is-modi-560966.html). Remember, the West and their rule in India was disastrous and terrible in the past. The East has its own dignity.