Narendra Modi’s interviews reflect his sincerity
There are reasons for the Congress and the other so-called secular parties to be worried by the two interviews that Mr Narendra Modi has given to TV9 and ANI. In both these interactions, the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate has steered clear of the sabre-rattling and loose talk which his opponents had hoped he would indulge in and give them an opportunity to ‘expose' him. But they are left with nothing to criticise expect to question his ‘sincerity' of purpose.
This is at best a subjective perception and holds little water with an electorate that is, from all available accounts, determined to see him as the country's next Prime Minister heading a BJP-led Government. Mr Modi exuded maturity when he said that he would not be vindictive towards his political rivals —even those who have made it their business to slander his image without an iota of evidence and have abused him in the crassest manner imaginable. He is right in observing that he knows what it means to be the subject of a vindictive movement — for more than a decade, Mr Modi has faced the onslaught of his opponents and large sections of the media for the 2002 violence in Gujarat, and has been accused of being directly or indirectly involved in the killing of members of the minority community in that incident.
That the courts have not found him guilty has not lessened the systematic campaign of slur he has lived with these years. In the interviews, Mr Modi has come across as a mellowed politician who has no interest, if he comes to power, in wasting precious time witch-hunting. But he has made it clear, nevertheless, that he wants quick justice for tainted lawmakers so that they are either exonerated or convicted without the issue being dragged endlessly in the courts of law.
His suggestion for the establishment of special courts to try such cases deserves merit. Mr Modi's maturity is also reflected in his balanced comments on political rivals who were part of the National Democratic Alliance, when he said that he did not believe in political untouchability and that every State had its strengths which must be tapped for the larger good of the country.
In specifically mentioning Tamil Nadu and Bihar, Mr Modi has sent out the message that he is willing to keep aside past acrimony and work with the Chief Ministers of the two States. His remark that harsh words he has spoken against rivals like Mr Nitish Kumar have been in the heat of election campaigning and that he would not carry them over, demonstrates his desire to rise above petty politicking once poll season is done away with. Taken together with the zeal which he has demonstrated through the interviews in wanting to strengthen the federal spirit of the Constitution, the remarks are evidence that Mr Modi means constructive business.
However, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate made it clear, and rightly so, that he would not be willing to indulge in vote-bank politics by adopting appeasement tactics. Although his opponents have slammed him for refusing to wear a skull cap that was presented to him by a member of the minority community at a function some months ago, Mr Modi has reiterated that he would not stoop to having photo-ops for the sake of minority appeasement, but would rather do something constructive for the betterment of the community across the country. He has done that it Gujarat, which is why he has won the support of the Muslims in the State. There is no reason why Mr Modi cannot replicate this success across the country if he gets an opportunity.