Post Nandigram win, Modi will be 'invincible' ? ::: Nervous Mamata pens letter : PM quotes Bible

Modi compares Kerala's ruling communists with Judas in Kerala where 15 per cent of population are Christians

"Judas had betrayed Lord Christ for a few pieces of silver ... just like that Left Democratic Front government has betrayed Kerala for a few pieces of gold," Modi said in a poll rally in Kerala on March 30.

The reference has triggered a debate on why the Prime Minister, who does not mind displaying his blatant support for Hindutva politics, made a Biblical reference. A master of symbolism and a powerful communicator, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a Biblical reference in his election rally speech in the southern state of Kerala, where Christian votes are decisive in certain seats.

However, Modi's statement was more political as gold-smuggling charges against the communists' dispensation in Kerala, especially against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, have made waves in the run-up to the polls. Political observers say it is not the first time that Modi, whose regime is accused of being harsh on conversion to Christianity, has referred to Christ or the Bible in his speeches. "Modi not only knows how to talk as a good orator and communicator. 

He has a perfect sense of timing. So, when the prime minister used a Biblical reference, he was not only targeting the chief minister or communists for the gold-smuggling scam, he was also giving a message to around 15 percent of the population," said Tushar Bhadra in Modi's parliamentary constituency in Varanasi.

Bhadra points out that in December 2017 in his monthly radio show Mann Ki Baat (Speaking from the Heart), the PM made reference to the Bible and the teachings of Christ. "Serving people is the biggest identity of humankind," Modi said, adding that on Christmas Day "we do remember the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ, and the thing we remember the most was his teachings on service."

Earlier this year, Modi met Catholic cardinals and archbishops from Kerala and, of course, everyone tracking Modi said the meeting was ultimately aimed at wooing Christians.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Modi-led federal government have been facing criticism for ignoring Christian interests amid reports of increased anti-Christian violence by Hindu fanatic elements in various parts of India including Uttar Pradesh, where the PM handpicked Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath to be chief minister.

Priyanka Gandhi: Pushing Hindu Card

In the run-up to the assembly elections in Kerala next month, both the communists and the BJP have been trying to secure Christian and Hindu votes to fight “radical Islamic forces” in the state.

Congress leader A.K. Antony, a Christian-turned-agnostic and a former Kerala chief minister, dismissed Modi's Biblical reference as a move with a political motive. "He is only eyeing  Christian votes," he said.

Antony also claimed that the BJP and the Communist Party of India (Marxists) have a hidden agreement to defeat Congress in these elections.

Rahul Gandhi, the face of the Congress party, is an elected MP from Kerala's Wayanad constituency.

Nandigram set to make Modi 'invincible' ? ::: Nervousness shows it again, Mamata pens letter

Nervousness shows it again, Hours before Nandigram voting, Mamata writes to Opp. leaders

New Delhi: She has been doing everything. She took on a wheelchair, went onto temple hopping, chanting mantras and even displayed her Shandilya Gotra. But rattled to the manner that she stands today - just hours before Nandigram voting, Trinamool Congresssupremo Mamata Banerjee on March 31 dashed off a letter to at least ten opposition leadersand urged them all to unite to fight BJP.

Many have called it her 'SOS' missive. 

BJP president J P Nadda said the letter showed "Mamata is in trouble".

"This letter is an internal matter of her party. But this letter is SOS - Save our Soul and Save our Ship. This is an attempt to save our ship".

The three-page letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, M.K Stalin, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, Hemant Soren, Arvind Kejriwal, Naveen Patnaik and Jagan Reddy says: “I am writing this letter to you, and to several leaders of non-BJP parties, to convey my serious concerns over a series of assaults by the BJP and its government at the Centre on democracy and constitutional federalism in India".

In her letter, she also said that despite losing to the AAP in both 2014 and 2019, the BJP was “unwilling” to accept the people’s mandate.

“The BJP has chosen to govern Delhi by making the chief minister subservient to the Lt Governor. The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act is a direct attack on the federal structure of the Indian Republic, as enshrined in the Constitution. It also makes a mockery of the letter and spirit of democracy since it disempowers the people of the national capital.

“You will also agree that what the BJP has done in Delhi is not an exception, but is increasingly becoming a rule,” she said.

The letter has drawn sharp criticism from many quarters including from the BJP and also netizens in the socialmedia.

"You cannot turn the wheel back ....," remarked BJP spokesperson Sanju Verma adding the signals

shows Mamata is nervous for having not performed in the last ten years.

"Didi is very DESPERATE at the moment," wrote one Upasana Singh. 

Another message on Twitter from Ravi Gaur says: "Unite Against BJP'....When u make noises like this signal goes to public that u r in distress.When WB was going to polls you were adamant to go it alone.Now,what is the urgency...Do u foresee BJP getting more seats Didi?"

Will Nandigram make Modi 'invincible' ?

Snatching power in West Bengal and humbling of Mamata Banerjee would mean 'endorsement' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies including the strongly contested three farm laws, the controversial CAA and also the manner Modi-Amit Shah duo has led India through the Covid19 crisis.

Thus, there is the immense political significance of the April 1 battle at 'ground zero' Nandigram.

After the marginalisation of Congress and a number of regional players, Mamata Banerjee is perhaps the 'last' mass level leader who has been steadfastly fighting BJP, unlike Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik or JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda.

Home Minister Amit Shah, who is also BJP's chief election strategist in West Bengal, says, "The defeat of Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram would be a direct and vital step to achieve Ashol Poriborton (true change) in the state". In fact, political observers say a poor show by Mamata in her constituency will loosen her grip on Trinamool Congress and the party will collapse. The battle in Nandigram and the rest of the multi-phased polling West Bengal will have a huge impact in national politics. 

BJP on Khela Shesh

The BJP strategists feel if Trinamool is humbled in its citadel, all other opposition parties across India will clearly get demoralised.

BJP's Lok Sabha MP at Barrackpore, Arjun Singh said, "The Trinamool Congress will further disintegrate at various levels''. Even others agree.

"It (Trinamool defeat) will have a huge psychological impact beyond Bengal. It will put a question on the viability of putting up a challenge to the BJP," poll strategist Prashant Kishor has been quoted in a section of the media. 

The detractors of the Modi-led dispensation have already dubbed the entire governance scenario and regular election wins by BJP as 'electoral autocracy. Such critical descriptions are definitely uncalled for.

On this backdrop comes the real significance of the on-going massive election process especially in states like West Bengal, Assam and partly in Kerala too.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has rightly dismissed the reports of some Swedish and US-based organisations as acts of hypocrisy. "I am self-assured about my country, I don't need certificates from other countries, who clearly have some agenda," he asserted.

But it goes without stating that stakes are high in these elections.

Indo-Bangla border fencing

Observers say 'the Mother of all elections will be on Thursday, April 1 wherein West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's electoral fate would be decided by the voters.

"There is definitely an added importance about the battle in Nandigram," Shah said after successful rounds of roadshows and small election meetings at Nandigram on the last day of campaigning.
Of course, elections in West Bengal and Assam have the special significance of their own - both separately and also if taken as a unit.

 

In two states - Bengal and Assam, there are a sizable Muslim population.

In Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal, the religious minority group form around 30 per cent of the population. Therefore, in both Assam and Bengal, issues like citizenship, CAA and illegal infiltration of Bangladeshis are livewire issues. The BJP is banking on its traditional 'Hindu nationalist ideology' and development cards pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only to draw votes but wrest power in Bengal - where they would create history if there is a win.

 

Keen to consolidate its hold in Assam, the saffron outfit has been able to motivate the 'Hindu support' base by promising to ensure effective implementation of NRC and 'identify and deport' hundreds of Bangladeshi illegal infiltrators who fled Bangladesh to these two states.

Do not forget, none other than Home Minister Shah had described them as “termites” eating into India’s resources.

Even the Prime Minister had said in the past that two types of people have come from Bangladesh, one the refugees who were forced after being thrown out in the name of the Hindu religion and the other infiltrators.

In Bengal, BJP leaders accuse Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of appeasing Muslims and hence the real test in Nandigram and other seats in this eastern Indian state is also on the issue of 'genuine Hindutva' vis-a-vis Hindu bashing and Muslim appeasement cards of Mamata.

BJP state unit chief Dilip Ghosh says: "TMC has made chanting Jai Shri Ram a criminal offence. Just like how the Britishers were irked by Vande Mataram slogan, the Mamata regime gets upset and scared of Jai Shri Ram. It is time for her exit".

 

Suvendu Adhikari, BJP candidate, who is taking on Mamata thunders repeatedly in election rallies, "Begum ke ami harabo (The emphasis is on word Begum to signifiy Mamata as a leader of the Muslims)".

 "Election victories in Bengal and Assam would mean entire eastern India right from Bihar to northeastern states are on the same page with the Modi government and this would also mean Modi has no challenger across India," says Naga politician Thomas Ngullie.

 He points out that after all Mamata Banerjee is the 'last' mass level leader and a powerful regional player who has been steadfastly fighting BJP and Modi-Shah duo.

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