.jpg)
Describing the concept of Brand Modi, he said: “I am a nationalist. I am patriotic. Nothing is wrong. I am a born Hindu. Nothing is wrong. So I am a Hindu nationalist...” Yet again cleverly blending Hindu nationalism with the development plank, Modi said people say he is “progressive, development-oriented and a workaholic”.
He then said there was “no contradiction” in being a Hindu nationalist and development-oriented. Trying to put his image back on track, he said, “The Supreme Court had created a special investigating team... the SIT report gave me a clean chit.”
Asked whether his government should have responded differently during the 2002 riots, he replied, “Till now we feel that we used our full strength to set out to do the right thing."
On the question that he is viewed as “too polarising a figure”, Modi said, “In America if there’s no polarisation between Democrats and Republicans, then how would democracy work?”
Puppy that ran over Modi
A massive controversy broke out on Friday over Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's certain remarks on 2002 riots, as most of the “secularist” political parties such as Congress, Samajwadi Party, CPM, CPI and JD(U) not only condemned his comments, but also demanded he should apologise for comparing Muslims to a “puppy”, which is highly “humiliating”.
Hitting out at the Saffron poster boy, AICC general secretary Ajay Maken said, “Thousands of people were killed in the communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 and in the backdrop the analogy used by Narendra Modi needed to be strongly condemned. There is no place for such a comparison in civilised India.”
However, in an apparent bid to assuage feelings of the Muslim community, Modi tweeted that "In our culture, every form of life is valued and worshipped.” Congress leader Ajay Maken said, “It is reflective of his perverse mindset. It is totally against the idea of India...We are unable to understand as to what is the intention of raising such things before the elections.”
Samajwadi Party spokesman Kamal Farooqui took strong exception to Modi's comment that even “if a puppy comes under the wheel” of a car, he would be sad. “What does he think, that Muslims are worse than even puppies? He does not have a heart for them.”
Going viral Hashtag puppy
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's “puppy” remark has stirred a social media storm with many slamming the politician for “insensitivity”. The #puppy figured prominently besides mentions of Modi himself.
“Modi did not say puppy as in ‘pilla’, he said ‘kutte ka bachcha’ which has a far worse connotation,” said a tweet by @RaisinaSeries.
Some even questioned the leader's misplaced analogy.
“Mr Modi, sorrow over the accidental death of a puppy on a road can only be passing. Is that what you felt for your countrymen in 2002?,” asked @ShomaChaudhury.
Others chose to dig a little deeper into the issue. “CM of Gujarat is saying that someone else was driving car in 2002. If true then isn’t it an admission of incompetence?” questioned @sachinbahad.
Humour also figured in reactions. "Waiting for TV Channels to describe Narendra Modi's Puppy comment as 'Shame,Shame Puppy Shame'," tweeted @jhunjhunwala.
No comments:
Post a Comment