Uri attack and Namo: The belligerent anti-Modi Jehad of ‘Sickular army’

The hypocrisy has no limitation. Belittling Modi is the real ‘jehad’ sickulars have found themselves in.

Singing laurels of Pakistani terrorists and Pakistani establishment thus assume greater significance than the supposed national interest.

Who is the winner in the ultimate analysis?

Among the believers of journalism of old school variety, I have always maintained in these blogs that the rules of the game are changing. The Kozhikode public speech of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his first since the gory Uri attack of September 18, could be analysed in that perspective.

In olden times, when journalists used to attend some events, the reporter’s inputs used to be vital. Reporters on the spot would not have greater accuracy of understanding but the on-spot interprepation would be considered vital. Hence we had a cliché: journalism is the first draft of history. 

But the rules are changed. These days, before a reporter is out from the field and sits before the computers, tonnes of words on interpretation, mis-interpretation and so called analyses have flooded social networking webs and also the oral diarrhea had hit the TV newsrooms. 

As usual Modi made a powerful speech at Kozhikode and did not fail to name Pakistan more than once as a country responsible for “exporting terrorism”. He did not miss to tell Pakistanis (the faceless people in western neighbourhood) that in the meantime India has only excelled in “exporting software”. The stark differences would sum up the story of that can happen to a country – created solely on the basis of religion.

What is Pakistan we know today? For some in India, it’s a “sole power” on earth who can take on Narendra Modi – remember the utter irresponsible utterances of a few Congress leaders. It is a country – that “teaches” the importance of friendship to journalist-activists and candlelight marchers like kuldip Nayar; it is also a good host to maverick one-book wonders like Arundhati Roy. 

Belligerent borders

But what is Pakistan otherwise – a country that “step by step” – to use a phrase of V S Naipul (certainly not a great friend of Sanghis and Modi admirers) – that has moved out of the “rule of law” and logic as it had inherited from the British colonial masters.

PM Modi had hit the usual jackpot when he showed the mirror to Pakistani population: - look at the contrasts in two countries in last seven decades.

"I want to tell the people of Pakistan - India is ready to fight you," Modi said, adding that both countries should fight against poverty, unemployment and illiteracy -- "let's see who wins".

These utterances were reflection of a vintage Narendra Modi – that seeks to elevate Namo as a regional statesman – and certainly not to the liking of ‘sickular’ brigade in India. No wonder, initial Congress reactions have been “verbal belligerence” and Left called it only a rhetoric from PM.

Tragedy of our time is opposition parties in India have remained in their cocoon still unable to reconcile to Modi’s rise as the head of the government in country’s largest democracy – as a directly elected representative of the people.

Getting back to facts about Pakistan, we know it as a state that has withered. Failure to uphold democracy and take on the country of ‘kafirs’ India has only left Pakistan lost in its faith plot. The “Pakistan” (sacred homeland) dream to sustain on ‘faith’ alone itself was flawed as Bangladesh moved out of its eastern wings and Prime Minister Modi is too right in pointing out: the day is not far off when the Pakistani people will wage a battle against their rulers and against terrorism.

Probably, for the first time an Indian Prime Minister has tried to establish dialogue with Pakistani people.

It was thus in more ways than one - a path breaking speech - unique way of establishing dialogue with the people of Pakistan. 

Flawed Idea and Jinnah

Namo also urged them to understand the folly and faulty line of Pakistani politicians ....the lipservice...and the caustic message was -- if Bangladesh and Pok and Balochistan cannot be looked after how would you do miracle in Kashmir.

"I want the people of Pakistan to question your government,” Modi said in what has already been labeled in the web world as ‘Mann ki Baat with Pakistanis’.

I want to remind the people of Pakistan that before 1947, your ancestors called this land their home. I want you, the people of Pakistan to question your government. They are unable to handle their domestic crises in Gilgit, Balochistan, and Sindh. They failed in east Bangladesh, but want to rake up Kashmir? Ask your government to first put their own home in order before worrying about Kashmir.

But how does one interpret Modi’s speech at Kozhikode vis-s-vis his efforts to deal with more serious social vices afflicting both India and Pakistan?

This would essentially bring us into debate on how ‘statesmanship’ in India – thanks to a combined influence of Nehruvian legacy and left-modernism – is also linked to Marxism variety of intellectuals.

Thus prior to the emergence of Narendra Modi in the national political canvas – Atal Behari Vajpayee was a more acceptable face and L.K. Advani a ‘communal’. But once Modi emerged at the fore front in 2013-14, BJP patriarch Advani started getting sympathies from the Left liberals. The players of secular polity found the former Deputy Prime Minister ‘less chauvinistic’ than Modi. 

The following questions – originally from T.S. Eliot in a different context – where’s the wisdom, we have lost in knowledge – where’s the knowledge we have lost in information – are  relevant certainly for sickular India.

ends