SHUTTING
THE DOOR ON MODI
Acting with highest morality
Modi is a fascist and there is a substantial
Indian mainstream that is delighted at Modis
embarassment
NAFISA ALI
March 24, 2005
The Indian Express
Does it really insult India and our great democracy,
when the USgoing by the it revoking Modis
visapointed to the fact that Narendra Modi had
violated religious freedom in his state?
I was elated and felt that finally, human voices
were speaking out and not remaining silent against
the perpetrators of crime. We Five Star activistsas
Narendra Modi calls ushave finally been heard.
Now we pray that the new Government takes the necessary
action in accordance with the rights of the Indian
people, so that we are not shamed internationally.
How can we forget what happened in Gujarat, yet
find many in the administration in support of a Modi
who has been denied a visa by the US? What happened
in the 1984 Sikh riotsbeing married to a Sikhhas
haunted me since, and what happened in Gujarat sent
me on a direct collision course with Modi and his
government. Advani, the then Home Minister, and Modi,
both protectors and abettors of crime, are now crying
out that Indian Pride has been hurt. What
about the pain and reign of terror that Modi unleashed
on his own state of Gujarat, the heart of economic
progress in India, and the state that gave birth to
Gandhi.
Let us reflect what Modis action plan was.
It was simply to polarise and divide a state along
religious lines and ignite the fascist passions of
the Hindutva cult that the BJP, RSS and VHP represent.
These pseudo-Hindutvas have hurt our magnanimous Indian
culture, rich in diversity. They now rally again for
an unjust cause, instead of acting in sincerity according
to the Indian Constitution.
I have visited the homes and shelters of thousands
of members of the riot-ravaged minority in Gujarat,
that was left to fend for itself ever since Modi was
sent to replace the then CM Keshubhai Patel. There
have been so many national and international reports
on the systematic attack on the minority population
for political gain. Some even pointing out that it
was along the lines of genocide. Why has our legal
system not acted? Why are the inquiries and commissions
not giving us the true picture? Democracy is a great
system of governance but when the state and the centre
are working together, it is not necessarily morally
governed, as Gujarat has shown us. It is a blot on
the face of Indian democracy!
It is not that the new UPA Government, under its
constitutional obligations, is complacent about the
accountability of the Modi administration; rather
due to respect for the position. The defensive attitude
of the UPA Government in strongly criticising USA
is understandable and appreciated as the MEA was not
consulted on this issue. This is purely a matter of
protocol but by going against this US decision, I
strongly feel that the UPA Government is not at all
shielding Modis patronage of the Gujarat riots.
Therefore, the National Human Right Commission Report
should not be ignored and appropriate action, if the
report is found to be true, should be taken instantaneously.
Modi is aggressively questioning the US Government
and proudly stating that no court of law in India
has indicted him. Even when taped conversations of
what transpired leading up to the riots, three years
ago, have won Ahmedabad-based Indian Express journalist
Stavan Desai an award, the proof that exists on the
tapes and also with the Nanavati Commission, still
lies there unable to nail Modis Plan.
Politicians in India now need to recognise that the
electronic media, with its global reach, makes them
answerable not only to their own electoral constituents
but to Indians globally and international pressure
groups also. I must give full marks to the NRI pressure
groups that were instrumental in revoking Modis
visa. This is a positive development and perhaps,
will lead to an urgent shift of prioritisation in
domestic policies, and result in our Chief Ministers
genuinely fulfilling the needs of their states rather
than creating religious discord and divisions along
caste lines. India is poised for a quantum leap forward
and it is time our political system marches in step
with human rights and the great democracy that we
represent. For some of us who have been traumatised
by the earlier tragic happenings in Gujarat and the
pathetic opportunism shown by the political leaders
of the state, the rejection of a visa for Modi is
just one appropriate consequence of an unjust action.
Let us also agree that there is a substantial Indian
mainstream that is delighted at Modis embarrassment.
I am one of them and hope that more follows. Even
as my mind says that the visa should be granted, my
intellect and my heart rejoice.