September 14 : Narendra Modi today announced a three-day fast from September 17 as part of a “mission to promote social harmony”, strengthening suggestions that he is positioning himself for a national role on the back of yesterday’s Supreme Court order.
The chief minister, who has timed the fast in Ahmedabad with his 62nd birthday, declared it would be part of a “Sadbhavana Mission” that would continue even after the fast ends and “strengthen Gujarat’s environment of peace, unity and harmony”.
“This exercise is clearly not for local consumption,” Modi loyalist and BJP leader Yamal Vyas said. “In Gujarat, he is on firm ground. His target audience is national.”
Sources suggested the attempted image makeover as a champion of social harmony was Modi’s way of trying to make himself more acceptable on the national stage.
The Supreme Court had left it to a Gujarat court to decide if Modi can be prosecuted for a riot in which 69 people were killed. Although the court stuck to the rule book and made no comments on the merits of the case, Modi appears to have concluded that it has washed the riot taint off him.
The unilateral announcement of the fast will also underline Modi’s biggest asset: his image of “doer”, which he has assiduously built by wooing investors and generally delivering on promises.
“As a pro-active chief minister, he is trying to convey the message that ‘You don’t tell me what to do, I’m already doing it’,” Shiv Vishwanathan, a social scientist, said.
The Congress and Modi’s other critics dismissed the fast as “political gimmickry” and demanded a “profound and comprehensive” apology for the riots of 2002 in which thousands were killed.
The chief minister outlined his plans in a letter to citizens, which referred to yesterday’s Supreme Court decision.
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“One thing is apparent from the Supreme Court’s judgment. The unhealthy environment created by the unfounded and false allegations made against me and the government of Gujarat, after the 2002 riots, has come to an end. For the past 10 years, it has become fashionable to defame me and the state of Gujarat,” he said.
Although Modi has stuck to his policy of equating criticism of himself with that of Gujarat, today he sought to address a wider platform outside the state by referring to “the people of this country”.
“The credibility of those who have been spreading lies and defaming Gujarat has come to its lowest ebb. The people of this country will not trust such elements any more,” Modi said.
Such references are certain to send a shiver down the spines of BJP leaders nurturing hopes of making a run for the Prime Minister’s post in the next elections.
Unlike L.K. Advani’s rath yatra from next month, which has failed to evoke spontaneous support from the entire Sangh parivar, sources said no ifs and buts had been raised over Modi’s unilateral decision.
Senior BJP leaders are expected to put in an appearance at the venue, which hasn’t been chosen yet, by turns to express solidarity.
The party and the parivar are likely to mobilise crowds and possibly showcase the event as an “answer” to the campaign of “calumny” against Modi. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which dislikes Modi’s “overbearing manner”, has directed its Gujarat cadres to ensure that enough numbers are galvanised.
Asked if the apex court ruling had changed the power dynamics within the BJP, a Sangh source replied: “Yes. A larger role for Modi on the national arena will not be ruled out.”
Whether that becomes a real possibility, sources said, depends on two circumstances: Advani categorically putting himself out of the leadership race and Modi winning a third straight Assembly election next year.
Sections of the parivar believe a hat-trick would “lift Modi’s profile to such an extent” that present and prospective NDA allies would shed their reservations about his “communal” image and reconcile themselves to the “reality” that he is here to stay.
Several NDA partners, however, have strong misgivings about Modi. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar — some consider him an eventual contender for the top post — had yesterday refused to comment on the apex court order.
Modi’s letter has preachy references redolent of a sense of irony. “There is a famous saying, ‘Hate is never conquered by hate’. The real strength of our country is its unity and harmony. Unity in diversity is the defining feature of India. It is our responsibility to strengthen unity in our social life,” Modi said.
Responding to demands that Modi should apologise first, an aide said the Sadbhavana Mission should be treated as one. But saying an outright sorry, the aide said, was “out of the question”.
Modi, however, took care not to describe the court ruling as a victory and termed it an “important judgment”.
The chief minister, who is nearly six feet tall and weighs 90kg, fasts every year during Navratri. A few years ago, he had undertaken a fast as a mode of protest on the Narmada dam issue. He is a vegetarian and practises yoga.
Thanks telegraph