"Now I introduce you to
the Merchant of Death to TERRORISM,
the Merchant of Death to CORRUPTION,
the Merchant of Death to NEPOTISM,
the Merchant of Death to OFFICIAL INEFFICIENCY,
the Merchant of Death to BUREAUCRATIC NEGLIGENCE,
the Merchant of Death to POVERTY AND IGNORANCE,
the Merchant of Death to DARKNESS AND DESPAIR"
While some attacks from the eleven are quite exciting and fun, what is most entertaining is the way Narendra Modi is handling, defeating and humiliating his attackers.
The three batsmen from Gujarat Congress are yet to find a single chink in Narendra Modi's armour even after being at it for eleven years. Like a frustrated Shoaib Akhtar, they keep making unintelligent moves that backfire on them. Modi tackles them primarily by completely ignoring them and letting the actual numbers, track record on development, and his following to speak for him. Recently, Congress goofed up by using an image from Sri Lanka to allege malnourishment under the Gujarat Government. Alert netizens uncovered the hoax and forced Congress to go on the defensive. Modi somehow manages to turn each such attack into an unwitting compliment from his opponents. They call him monkey and he becomes Hanuman!
Narendra Modi chose to handle Keshubhai Patel the graceful way – by not responding. He is staying clear of commenting on anything related to Patel's attacks, thus maintaining his own dignity and letting Patel make a fool of himself. The same is true of Pravin Togadia and others as well. With real support from the people of Gujarat, who have risen above class, caste, and religion-based politics, Narendra Modi handles his opponents well.
Congress does not seem to have forgotten that Modi, who they called a 'Maut Ka Saudagar' turned into a 'Vote Ka Saudagar' during the last Assembly election. This has caused such great depression to their two frontline bowlers that even after five years they hesitate to bowl against Modi. The State Congress has advised them not to bowl anything loose to Narendra Modi, but it seems they are not even willing to take the ball in their hands! Such a shameful surrender! Even if they bowl, one is a baby bowler and not even worth Modi's attention while the other doesn't even know the Gujarat pitch.
Local media is working hand-in-hand with the eleven in this dirty game. To them, everything Modi does is questionable. If Modi gives tickets to sitting MLAs they conclude that Modi has scrapped the 'no-repeat' theory in fears of losing the election. If he does the opposite, they predict that there will revolt against the party and Modi will lose the election. Gatherings of just a few hundred in Opposition rallies are reported as thousands. Journalism in the State has descended to such lows that Modi doesn't even have to make an effort to counter attacks coming through it.
During this last five-year match as well as during last 12 years, we have witnessed the most intense campaigns by NGOs to defame Modi. There were affidavits after affidavits, cases after cases and inquiries after inquiries. All possible allegations have been levelled against the two-time elected head of State in the last decade. Thanks to the effective Indian Judicial System, Modi has delivered fatal blows to such malicious organisations.
National media kept the Godhra carnage and the resulting three days of violence across the State alive for many years. Even when Gujarati people from all religions decided to put it behind them and move ahead on the path of development, the media didn't let it go. They twisted the number of dead in the riots from one thousand to more than two thousand. They reported that the police didn't do anything to stop the riots and hid the fact that police firing killed many while stopping the riots. Thanks to the power of social media, Modi has been successfully countering the canards spread by sections of the national media. Comment sections on any number of web articles are full of discussions on Modi. These provide a true picture of the following that Modi can boast of. The irony is that the more they try to vilify Modi, the more Modi's image improves.
Modi's best response to the so-called secularists in India is his inclusive approach to development. Reports showing the true position of Gujarati Muslims on all fronts – education, share in Government jobs, wealth, business are enough to shut the mouths of those who insist on seeing everything through the communal prism.
For Modi, scoring in the slog overs is not for winning. Elections can't be won during last the few months. He won the Gujarat contest a long time ago by a huge margin. In fact, he created records for himself to break by ambitiously looking ahead. This election is a contest between the Modi of 2007 and the Modi of 2012.
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