Modi, BJP
Prime Ministerial candidate is rushing through the country projecting Gujarat
development model which he claims will be applied on All India level so as to
make India as one of the envious countries of the world. It is a different
matter that many credible critics like Peoples Union for Civil Liberties a
Human Right Organization “founded by Jaya Prakesh Narayan during Emergency 1975”
has published a book Truth on Gujarat development, which shows all these claims
to be false.
I can
understand exaggerated claims by Modi and the disreputable attempt by Congress
to cover up the corruption scandal and inefficiencies of UPA government as a
part of normal election strategy.
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But when
Modi invokes God to his support in the elections, as he did recently by saying
“that he has been chosen by God to rescue the country…..that God chooses
certain people to do the difficult work and he believes God has chosen me for
this work”, is a statement that violates every teaching and tradition of
Hinduism. Of course I know very little of Hindu Shashtras. But I know reasonably
well to assert that under Hinduism God has never enlisted a mortal to save the
country or lead the Nation. Rather it is sacrilegious for any Hindu mortal to
claim that in worldly matters he is the chosen one by God.
Hindus most
sacred scripture, the four Vedas, which they believe were God’s spoken words
are said to have been instilled into Braham Rishis, whose names are not even known.
Hindus believe in Tri-Murti of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva). They further
believe that when there is injustice, anarchy on earth, Vishnu (Avtar) comes in
the garb of man to save the world. So is the story of Lord Ram, and Lord
Krishna whom God gave mortal shape and then sent them to earth to carry out
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his work. But
nowhere under Hinduism has a mortal man (I hope Modi loyalists would not
contradict the mundane claim that Modi is a mortal person, like the rest of
earthly people), ever been entrusted by God direct to save the Nation.
More
forcefully the same message and pattern runs through all the other religions.
To Christian Christ was the son of God – no other Christian claims direct
contact with God. The Holy Quran rejects the notion of attributing divine
qualities to any one other than God. The Quran contains narratives of previous
prophets such as Adam, Abraham, Moses.
Prophet
Muhammad (the last Messanger of God) never claimed that God revealed to him
Quran direct. The Prophet submissiveness to God is so complete in shown by his
open declaration that it was through Angel Gabriel that God revealed the Quran
to him. So Modi’s claim that he has been
chosen by God is sacrilegious, against not only the
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teachings
of Hinduism or Islam, but of all religious. To claim such proximity to God is
the most serious sacrilege.
Another declaration
by Modi when he went to file his nomination from Varanasi attributes to him
saying that he has not come on his own, but that he has come at the command of
Mata (Mother) Ganga. It is well known that to overwhelming Hindus, Ganga is not
considered only a river but above all divinity is attributed to it. I am not
going into the question whether these words may not amount to invoking religious
appeal during elections and a corrupt practice thus entailing disqualification.
I concede that Modi is more conversant with Hindu Religion than me who could be
called an ignoramus in this context. So surely he would remember that when
Bhisham Pitamah, the greatest heroes of Epic Mahabharat goes to Mother Ganga
(it should be remembered that Ganga was the real mother of Bhisham Pitama,
according to the epic), Ganga gets angry and tells Bhisham ‘why do you come running
to me whenever
you have any problem – use your
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own
thinking and act accordingly) Bhisham Pitamah, the real son of Ganga accepts
this remonstration in all humility. So if Ganga the real mother does not want
to get embroiled in worldly problem of his real son Bhisham why would Ganga
especially call Modi who is engaged in petty worldly matters of General
Elections. Mr. Modi, why are you cheapening the divinity and the worship of Mother
Ganga for whom millions of Hindus have the highest devotion and reverence.
Not to be
out done Sonia has also invoked God to save the country from Gujarat Model. Who
should God listen to because He is one God for all religions. Can one not
expect politicians to leave God alone to look after us small mortals who have
only Him to save us.
The low
level exchanges between Congress, B.J.P. at the highest level is sickening and
shows what degrading low can the fight for political plums drag the parties
down. This was not always so. Let me give an example of the dignity with which
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and Pt. Nehru known
to be greatest
political rivals acted in the thick of
1962
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General
Election when Dr. Lohia decided to stand for parliament against Pt. Nehru. He
wrote to him thus;-
“Dear President”,
In these elections, your victory is certain. But if the
certainty is turned into uncertainty and ultimately to your defeat then I would
be extremely happy and it would also be beneficial for the country. Then you
would get the opportunity to improve yourself and become a better person. In
the end, I pray for your long life so that I may get the opportunity to reform
you.
Yours truly,
Ram Manohar
Lohia.
Pt. Nehru replied;
Dear Ram Manohar
“I am happy that a sober person like you is opposing me in the
elections. I think in this election the discussion would be centred on the
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political programmes. Be
cautious and ensure that the personal discussion should be curtailed.”
Yours,
Jawahar Lal
Nehru
Later on in 1963 when Dr. Lohia was
elected to lok Sabha and went on the first day to attend the Lok Sabha session Pt.
Nehru made it a point to be present there and to personally welcome him. The
moral is – good grace mannerism should not become victim of political rivalry.
Is it too much to expect that at least for the rest of election period let
debate be on political level and not on personal vilification.
Rajindar Sachar
Dated:
02/05/2014
New
Delhi
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