From Singur to Sanand
Ever since Tata announced the decision to relocate the nano project from the trouble-torn Singur in West Bengal to Sanand in Gujarat, there have been mixed reactions. For the Hindu liberals as well as the progressive Left, there is nothing worse than the master-mind of Godhra and arch-rioter, Modi. The inaction of Gujarat police during the infamous riots directed against the Muslim minority is taken as proof of complicity of state administration in subduing those who dared raise their heads against nationalist Hindus and had targeted the kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya with arson and murder. Frankly, one is either a Modi-baiter or a Modi admirer. Be it in politics or media, there have been few voices, which condemned both-what preceded and followed Godhra. Modi cocked a snook at his critics spread across the media, political opponents within and without, judiciary et al and derided them publically. He called them enemies of the asmita or self-respect of Gujarat and rallied the locals behind himself. What he could not win with his self-effacing ideology, he conquered with a clinically-efficient administration. Be it the building of infrastructure or providing post-floods emergency relief, there was a stamp of his ruthless pursuit of goals. He has been unsparing in action, overbearing in confidence and patient in pursuing ambitions. Few state leaders have shown the dynamic resolve to grab the Nano project by doing the entire homework in ten days. The Opposition in Gujarat stands vanquished and the Modi-baiters across the nation petrified at the turn of events. A Gujarat with its efficient governance but no room for dissent may look like India’s Singapore. The rest of India needs to learn from it how to grow and Modi’s Gujarat needs to re-learn that democratic or human rights are not antithetical to growth. We need to follow our economic goals in a fair and firm manner. The Nano’s progress from a chaotic Singur to a sanguine Sanand should be an eye-opener for those who cannot think beyond stereotypes.
Ever since Tata announced the decision to relocate the nano project from the trouble-torn Singur in West Bengal to Sanand in Gujarat, there have been mixed reactions. For the Hindu liberals as well as the progressive Left, there is nothing worse than the master-mind of Godhra and arch-rioter, Modi. The inaction of Gujarat police during the infamous riots directed against the Muslim minority is taken as proof of complicity of state administration in subduing those who dared raise their heads against nationalist Hindus and had targeted the kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya with arson and murder. Frankly, one is either a Modi-baiter or a Modi admirer. Be it in politics or media, there have been few voices, which condemned both-what preceded and followed Godhra. Modi cocked a snook at his critics spread across the media, political opponents within and without, judiciary et al and derided them publically. He called them enemies of the asmita or self-respect of Gujarat and rallied the locals behind himself. What he could not win with his self-effacing ideology, he conquered with a clinically-efficient administration. Be it the building of infrastructure or providing post-floods emergency relief, there was a stamp of his ruthless pursuit of goals. He has been unsparing in action, overbearing in confidence and patient in pursuing ambitions. Few state leaders have shown the dynamic resolve to grab the Nano project by doing the entire homework in ten days. The Opposition in Gujarat stands vanquished and the Modi-baiters across the nation petrified at the turn of events. A Gujarat with its efficient governance but no room for dissent may look like India’s Singapore. The rest of India needs to learn from it how to grow and Modi’s Gujarat needs to re-learn that democratic or human rights are not antithetical to growth. We need to follow our economic goals in a fair and firm manner. The Nano’s progress from a chaotic Singur to a sanguine Sanand should be an eye-opener for those who cannot think beyond stereotypes.
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