Friday, October 19, 2007

Why I like Narendra Modi

Whatever be the respective ideologies, I like the men who are men: those who stand by whatever they believe in and take on the whole world if needed. My earliest memory of Narendra Modi is in a discussion hosted on a television channel. Mr. Modi was then the BJP spokesperson, I guess. There was a Congress leader besides him and the host was throwing questions at them, more often they passed comments on each other's party. What I liked about Mr. Modi was his clear, precise, direct, and disciplined use of words. And above all: his honest belief in whatever he said. It was around 10 years back, and much water has flown in Narmada since then. Modi got more than his share for whatever happened in Gujarat. But he never bent; never released is vent on other leaders, or never complained in frustration. You need real guts to be a Narendra Modi!

Mr. Modi spoke at the recently concluded HT Leadership Summit. In his speech, he declared: "I am obsessed with my state's welfare. And then, they did the question and answer session on him. Here are the left over:

Do you fear your past? Do you regret the riots?

The truth will finally dawn on the people. Its the people who will decide my fate and I am answerable to none but them.

On the fate of Muslims under your regime, what percentage of people backs you?

See for yourself: When the Narmada waters reached Sabarmati, the whole city benefited. But you ask what percentage got the benefit. You see a division. You have to change your mindset.

Whether Hindutva would take a back seat to development this poll season?

Gandhiji's Ram Rajya and issues like Hindutva are also relevant.

Define Ram Rajya.

Ram Rajya to me is nothing but the concept of a welfare state.

Why did you take five days to compliment Irfan Pathan on his performance in the T20 final?

I wanted the people to debate why no one had bothered to reward the policemen who gave up their lives thwarting Pakistan-backed terrorists in Ayodhya.

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