Stopping The Couptas At The Gates Of Lutyengrad
( Sri. V. Govindarajan’s E mail to the author of India Today Article )
Dear Shekhar,
Good evening. Your CTC today on the India Today – Mood of the Nation survey. My views are as follows.
Bhakht Cult: Similar to Rajdeep Sardesai, you have been describing Modiji as a “Cult figure’. This is unfair. Sachin Tendulkar was called “God of cricket”, Dravid was “Wall of cricket”. Will you also call them as “cult figures”? A tall Leader has a huge following. The term “cult” undermines the followers more than the Leader.
You must analyze as to why people follow / admire Modiji as the survey reveals.
Integrity: PM’s integrity – non corrupt image is impeccable. Right from his CM days in Gujarat till today on a personal level, no one can raise a finger against him. The stark evidence is the way his family members live in utter poverty even now. People just make comparison of the PM with all other Leaders both the past & present. This in itself raises PM’s personal credibility to a very high level. That’s why all the noise of “Chowkidar Chor hai” by the Rahul Gandhi fell in deaf ears.
The “Doer”: Opposition & many in media mocked PM with “56 inch” barb. The Uri surgical strike, Balakot air strike etc. punctured all these people apart from damaging Pakistan’s image Globally. This made people to “trust” the PM that he is a man to defend the nation.
Abrogation of article 370, 35A clearly lifted PM’s image to a new high as it was the boldest decision ever taken in recent history by any Leader in India. He swept the entire opposition in one stroke. You may criticize the house arrest of some of the leaders in Kashmir. But people felt that these leaders were never serious to the Kashimir’s cause. Issuing domicile certificates to the dogras, valmikis etc. after 70 years was an outstanding & humane act. They all felt like winning freedom only now.
The very fact the whole World rallied behind us on all these occasions & also during the Indo-China standoff is a testimony to PM’s stature in the World community. He raised India’s image sky high in the World stage.
We, saluting the PM (the gutsy Leader) doesn’t make him a “cult” figure as alleged by you.
Commitment: Be it handling Corona, its impact on the economy etc. they were done with full commitment. He chose “not to play to the gallery”. Whatever the “noise” made by the leading economists, PM acted in a matured way. The likes of Dr. Raghuram Rajan etc. are “uni-directional” & argue their points purely from the economic perspective. But as the Head of a Nation, PM had to balance the financial needs of the security forces against the backdrop of the tense situations in the border. A “two-front’ war was looming large. Hence, splurging money recklessly would have caused an everlasting damage to our financial stability. He also resisted the temptation of “printing” money & stayed vigilant against huge international downgrade.
Ram Mandir: PM stood to his ground to all his party men & all others that he would wait for the SC verdict & won’t do anything silly. Once the verdict is out, he behaved in a matured way & in a very pious manner did the Bhumi puja. You may call this Hindutva blah blah. But he was representing the Crores of devotes across the World. He reflected the sentiments of these devotees. He never wanted to hide his own personal identity. He was surely not “faking” anything. He was truthful to himself & his beliefs & also that of Crores of Indians who worship Ram. Here again Shekhar, following him doesn’t make us, we the people, “cult” followers.
It’s a feeling like “He” is our man, he is one amongst us, & he will take care of us, Nation is safe in his hands. This reposing of confidence can’t be undermined as “cult” following.
It’s time for all of you to accept the reality & the “mood of the Nation”. If you all still want to travel on your own “old route”, I am sure you will walk alone. Because, the Nation walks behind Modiji. We have no qualms in following him, whatever you may brand us.
Regards,
V. Govindarajan
