Modi’s fast fails to send message
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s three-day fast failed to send positive message to the people, including the majority and minority, on “sadbhavana” and created confusion among the BJP workers over the prime-ministerial candidacy of Mr Modi and senior leader L.K. Advani.
If his fast has divided the BJP-led NDA between the Janata Dal(U) and rest on Mr Modi’s prime-ministerial projection, it has also shown that he
would be stumbling block in creating an alternative to the Congress-led UPA at the national level.
The Shiromani Akali Dal can back him but the Shiv Sena may not remain in the NDA if the BJP tries to keep both, Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj
Thackeray, together in the front.
On the other hand, the prospective allies such as the TDP, the TRS, the BJD, the INLD would find it difficult to work with Mr Modi who has been
known for his authoritarian style in the BJP and outside.
While Mr Modi’s refusal to don a skull cap has hurt the sentiments of minorities, his efforts to become a “secular” for power position at the
Centre, surprised Hindutva hardlines.
AICC has deliberately played down the fast which was described by Mr Modi’s critics as a “stunt”, “image building exercise”.
According to the Congress insiders, he sat on the fast to gain sympathy ahead of the state Assembly polls. “He (Modi) should announce who would be
the Gujarat chief minister if he wants to be projected as a prime-ministerial candidate?” they asked.
In Lucknow, a prominent Shia cleric termed all those, including Muslims, who attended the fast by Mr Modi, as “gunahgaar” (culprit) of riots.
“All those attending the fast with Modi are equally culprit of Gujarat riots. We will observe a fast on the coming Friday to save the country from
such people,” Kalbe Jawwad said. Mr Jawwad also compared Mr Modi with Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab.
“Will the people of the country forgive Kasab and Afzal Guru if they observe the fast,” Mr Jawwad said, adding Mr Modi could not be forgiven.
He said his “deeds have also put a blot on Hindutva”.
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