Dear Offstumped
87 assembly seats in Gujarat go to polls today. I am writing this letter to you to convey to my fellow residents of Gujarat these thoughts that crossed my mind as I exercised my Constitutional Rights this morning.
First I am deeply disappointed with the attitude of the so called liberal media towards a troubling discovery in Nandigram. The media and the national conscience keepers like the NHRC?that never tire of reminding me of their secular credentials stand exposed over their hypocrisy. As you had rightly pointed out in your post on 23rd Oct 2007 on the media manufactured outrage over the discovery of few unclaimed bodies as “Mass Graves”, it is puzzling that there is neither outrage nor CBI intervention from the NHRC on the many graves uncovered in Nandigram. While my state Gujarat is forever tainted in NCERT Textbooks with references to a mass grave that never was, I am disappointed that the media has looked the other way on Nandigram.
Secondly I am outraged by the attitude of the Congress Party and its President Sonia Gandhi for giving a communal color to an extra judicial killing of a known criminal Sohrabuddin. This perversity of taking offense to a fake encounter on the basis of religion sickens me. More than the attitude of the Congress it is the attitude of the media that has me troubled at mind. As you had righty pointed out in your post from 30th April 2007 the National Capital where law enforcement is the responsibility of the UPA Government saw 18 fake encounters during 2004-2005 and not even one of these incidents evoked a murmur of outrage not even on the basis of the religion of the victims, as despicable as it may have been.
Thirdly it is stunning that a Constitutional body like the Election Commission should have acted in a patently partisan manner by looking the other way as the Administration of my state is said to be “Merchandising Death” when in fact during 2004-2005 Congress ruled Andhra Pradesh had 21 fake encounters and Congress ruled Maharashtra had 29 fake encounters.
When I see all of this and your post illustrating the unrelenting one-sided tirade by the mainstream media against Mr. Modi by making out his remarks on Sohrabuddin to be about Communal hatred and playing the Hindu Card, I cant help but wonder if I am unwittingly subsidizing the media’s agenda here. I have hence decided to no longer allow the media to pursue its disingenuous secularism on my dime and penny. I will henceforth not subscribe to any media outlet like The Hindu with a stated agenda that puts psuedo-secularism above fact and truth in Gujarat. I will also henceforth send a loud and clear message to all those Consumer Goods Companies that advertise on channels like NDTV and CNN-IBN that they should no longer subsidize the media’s agenda with their advertisement fees else they wil have to deal with a boycott of their products and services in Gujarat.
If after reading this you have assumed I voted for Mr. Modi you are mistaken. I have deep differences with him on policy and governance.
Where I strongly believe in a culture of entitlement Mr. Modi believes in a culture of enterprise. Where his government has been working to attract investments and reduced the role of the state I see a need for more spending on social programs and an expanded role for the state. Where his government has introduced schemes to promote healthcare via private entities I strongly believe in the public health care system and want it to be preserved, strengthened and expanded even if it means limiting the freedom of choice for a few to deliver a larger public good.
Mr. Modi’s fate will be decided by me and my fellow Gujaratis on the basis of his record and not on the basis of the media’s discomfiture with his utter lack of regard for their brand of political correctness. The 2002 riots were a blot and have left a bitter wound in my psyche and those of my fellow Gujaratis both Hindus and Muslims who died in large numbers. I have faith in the judiciary that ultimately justice will be served to both the Muslim and Hindu victims.
While I bitterly disagree with Mr. Modi on his economic agenda and approach to governance I will not allow radical left wing activists and the psuedo secular media to take me and my fellow Muslims for a ride by raising false fears and manufacturing outrage. Their activism offends me for it stereotypes me with a dictator like Musharraf who has no respect for democracy and a known criminal like Sohrabuddin with terrorist links. However if Mr. Modi is re-elected which I am guessing he might I would expect him to fully prosecute all the accused irrespective of their religion to prove me right on my opposition of the radical left wing and the psuedo-secular media.
With these thoughts I appeal to my fellow Gujaratis to exercise their franchise.
My vote against Mr. Modi was least because we do not pray to the same God. I am a Gujarati first and a Muslim last.
Yours truly
An Aam Aadmi who also happens to be a Musalmaan
Filed under: Gujarat Polls 2007, Uncategorized
Somebody should post this letter to 10,janpath…
Sensible post
Where are poll predictions this time Yossarin. You were doing a good job for UP
.
Without declaring as much, aam aadmi who happens to be a Mussalman, has written the Congress – I agenda on the sly. That is his right, no objection to that, but ‘aam aadmi’ belongs to Congi- I textbooks. You cannot mistake that.
Differing with Modi, and casting his vote against Modi, are his privileged rights.
What amuses me is why did he come out on Dec.11, when the 1st phase of polling has ended just now, and not earlier. We would have then had the opprtunity of dissecting his views.
If he is concerned about Nandigram, lack of response of/ from leading ’secular’ political parties, TV and Press, and leading human rights and minorities rights activists, this is stark reality of Indian ’secularism’.
I fully agree with him that justice should be delivered and guilty punished for Gujarat’s 2002 happenings, including Modi, if found guilty. But till then Modi is an accused in a section of public’s mind, and I have at present given him benefit of doubt, and given him my precious vote today.
I want Gujarat to be peaceful, progressive, and prosperous.
Modi has the acumen to deliver on the ideals, given a stable and comfortable majority. Cong I is ruled by a worse coterie of 1st family, and is not leading the country to lofty democratic ideals.
Just look at ‘merchant of death’ like accusations by Sonia. And flip flop following thereafter. Before the EC, she has no courage to own up that she hurled accusations against Modi. That is the difference like so many others, why Cong I is a decaying party.
60% voting in phase 1. 1 % more than last time!!!
Just keep watching,, we will set example for whole India in how to throw pseudo-secular and liar out of this country.
Gujjuman – fantastic expect my predictions tomorrow morning.
I wish I could see articles like this in the mainstream english media. It’s sad to see how much Lord Macaulay has penetrated the Indian Elite psyche. Their hatred for all things hindu is so evident. Modi bashing has become the new cause-celebre for all English mass media. Just type ‘modi’ or ‘gujurat’ in google news, and the results are sickening. There is going to be a backlash, sooner rather then later, it would be interesting to see how it’s fruition will come about.
You can see how media has dried up after EC reported 60% turn around.
Modi’s acceptance speech :
I would like to thank tehelka, aaj tak, ndtv, sahara samay to help get out the vote by trying to poison the election atmosphere by their biased communal reporting. I would like to single out tehelka, we loved your ’sting’, could not have done without you.
I would like to thank the Kangress, sonia italiano and digivijay singh, for referring to me as a ‘merchant of death’ and calling gujuratis ‘hindu terrorists’. Without your help, I could not have had gujuratis come out in a vengeance to protect their pride.
I would like to thank the communist-NGO crowd, teesta setalvad and her hubby javed, mukul sinha, medha patkar, arundhati roy and gujurati haters to help enrage the gujurati voter by your psuedo-secular agenda.
Finally, I would like to thank the people of Gujurat, for seeing through the hubris, and electing BJP for good governance and progress.
now this is the part that I hope he really says
I will work to bring together gujuratis, all gujuratis, hindus and muslims, to heal old wounds, and move forward together.
BJP feels threatened by Modi: PM
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/gujpolls2007/Election_Story.aspx?ID=NEWEN20070035588&type=CampaignTrail
Should manmohan first ask for Sonia Madam to give him his ‘manhood’ back, before commenting on Modi or BJP ?
No Exit polls from channels?
I proud to be gujarati and like to have gujarati fellow like you. I am living in UK but still my heart is with gujarat.
same here patel kaka..
i m from sheffield Yorkshire..
but always my heart in Gujarat..
and my vote is always for modi for this election
Bhavin beta, call ur home and tell them to do same!
The NDTV polls were showing an improvement in the Congress tally and a fall in the BJP tally. BJP’s representative Chandan Mitra was explaining that the performance of the BJP in the previous elections was a huge record and may not be replicable in the current elections, however there was no question of not winning the elections.
I’m sure that now the latest Congress spin will be that even if the BJP loses 10-20 seats and forms the govt, it will be a Moral Victory for the Congress! Expect some inane statements from that two tongued Abhishek Manu Singhvi!
I will love to see them discuss about congress side turnarounds in relation to North Gujarat. North Gujarat is saurasthra of 1998, when BJP won 56/58. North Gujarat, Ahmedabad, Central Gujarat are strong BJP bastions. Congress cannot even dream of winning seats like khadia, visnagar, sarkhej, many others etc.
Ravindra, you are mistaken – Abhishek Singhvhi and Jayanti Natarajan will be all over IBN, NDTV, Sahara explaining to them how Congress gain of a few seats (if that is the case) is all due to Sonia and Rahul and how without their campaigning, Congress would have drawn a blank. I am sure the local Congresswalla’s in Gujarat will love that.
The mass media will be ready to spin the elections either way. read this brilliant analysis.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnist1.asp?main_variable=Columnist&file_name=SWAPAN176%2Etxt&writer=SWAPAN&validit=yes
1.
If BJP wins, it will be a win for hate !
Kangress has the moral victory.
2.
if BJP loses, it will because they didnt perform !
Kangress will actually win. (not a real option)
So according to media, Kangress wins either way.
maybe it is the media’s credibility, that will ultimately lose ?
Janpar Mallai ,
And Abhi-SHEIK SingV parrots this line —
“Naturally, Rahul’s name is in currency as a future potential prime minister,”
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1096433
“Every electoral defeat is a lesson to be imbibed for concrete improvement and cannot be called a setback,”
Abhi-SHEIK SingV –( UP Elections)http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1096433
[...] Gujarat Polls 2007 – Unwritten letter from GujaratBy yossarinFirst I am deeply disappointed with the attitude of the so called liberal media towards a troubling discovery in Nandigram. The media and the national conscience keepers like the NHRC that never tire of reminding me of their secular …The Indian National Interest – http://nationalinterest.in [...]
Guys,
The exit polls say that “Congress gains and BJP suffers losses in phase 1″ but I think its GAME SET MATCH BJP. BJP and MODI are back to power.
Anyone following the gujarat polls 2007 knows that this phase 1 was a crucial stage and the BJP could lose power if Congress gets 55-60 seats out of 87 seats in phase one. But according to the projections, Congress at the max will get 40-45 seats that leaves minimum 40 seats out of 87 seats for the BJP.
In Phase 2, central and north gujarat where the BJP is very very very strong it is bound to gain more votes. So they are bound to get at least 60 seats out of 95.
If we do the math 40 + 60 = 100+ seats and BJP back to power.
Gujarati,
I dont think that even the most ardent Congress supporter seriously believes that the BJP will fall short of a majority. The best bet they can hope for is that the BJP will lose a significant share of its existing seats due to infighting, anti-incumbency etc. and the Congress can claim a moral victory. Swapan Dasgupta’s article (linked above) is hard-hitting and on the dot!
I feel the Congress’ game plan is much larger. With no serious hopes of winning Gujarat, the idea is to polarise the society at large in order to consolidate the Muslim vote bank. Post-Gujarat elections, the UPA/ Left will sooner or later have to face up to the decision on the Nuclear deal and this could possibly lead to mid-term General Elections. If this happens, the polarisation created during the Gujarat polls will certainly come in handy in states like UP, Bihar, WB etc.
Ravindra,
There is a bit more to the Congress strategy.
If only the Muslim vote bank gets consolidated, Congress will lose instantly. Muslims don’t have the numbers.
The idea is to consolidate all those who are suspicious of Modi and BJP behind Congress by taking a stand against Modi in Gujarat.
Unless sufficient number of Hindus come behind Congress, Congress doesn’t have a chance in any state. (From my point of view as an opposing viewpoint on this blog, Congress needs Hindus behind it – and it hopes to appeal to the Hindu who believes that Modi is too dangerous to be left in peace. Again from my point of view, there are lots of them – and I am grateful to them for that.)
Media, will, of course, play up any reduction in votes for Modi as a victory.
People now view Media with suspicious eyes….Thanks to the Image Media has created of itself….
Apparently a Patel organization issued advertisements in gujarat papers appealing for voting against Modi. Am curious to know what the content of the ad was, what reasons they cited for appealing against Modi.
60% turnout is good. Considering the biggest issue in this election was Modi, and even the english channels could not report on anything like anti-incumbency, I would expect a good turnout to be good news for the BJP. If they still lose, it may prove that the Patel factor did work for the congress. right?
The idea is to consolidate all those who are suspicious of Modi and BJP behind Congress by taking a stand against Modi in Gujarat.
ROTFL!
These anti Modi Hindus need help, the anti Modi Hindus apparently are glad to see ads promising goodies to “Muslim, Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists”, clearly these anti Modi good Hindus also agree the Muslims should have the first claim on the resources.
Congress strategy is clear : woo Muslims and for Hindus work out some caste alliances.
They don’t give a shit about latte sipping anti Modi Hindus.
Don’t miss the bashing of the ITA …Male Anchor of the year…Mr. Rajdeep “Biased” Sardesai…..by AAM AADMI..
http://www.ibnlive.com/blogs/brand-modi-on-sale/2649/comments_blog.html
Matt: “…it hopes to appeal to the Hindu who believes that Modi is too dangerous to be left in peace…”
By what logic does it appear that Modi is “too dangerous” for the Hindus.
See the Confession of Matt
Media has Teamed up with Congress to defeat Modi…
Finally Mask of Media is coming out And we find the Doormat of 10Janpath in Media.
Anyway for Media Lage Raho……
Dear Matt,
In Nandigram Graveyard has been Found of many dead bodies………
So dear ask ur Media Friends to “Enlighten” us on that…..anD stop Modi modi modi.
Because Modi has WON.
iS javed akhtar going to file case in Court against BUDDHADEV BHATTACHARJEE….
wONDERING THE SCENE if that graveyard had been found in Gujarat.
Sonia backtracks remarks on Modi
NEW DELHI: Sonia Gandhi’s U-turn over her objectionable “merchants of death” statement is now official. In her reply to the Election Commission’s notice, the Congress president has claimed that she had the state administration, and not just chief minister Narendra Modi, in mind when she made the comment.
This is in sync with the line adopted by Congress leader Kapil Sibal soon after the BJP raised its pitch against the “objectionable and personalised” remark. Speaking days after party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi declared that “maut ka saudagar” was too mild a description of Mr Modi, Mr Sibal did a conscious U-turn, arguably to avert EC action, claiming that she had not been referring to Mr Modi after all, and was only talking of state functionaries including the Sohrabuddin encounter-accused D G Vanzara.
It is another matter that Mr Singhvi was back to certify the “merchant of death” remark as “appropriate” the next day. Mr Singhvi, incidentally, is also the legal brain who has framed the reply on behalf of Ms Gandhi. The reply gives “detailed reasons” to the EC, pointing out that party president Sonia Gandhi had not violated the model code of conduct by making the said remark.
Mr Singhvi, incidentally, was wary of revealing the contents of the Ms Gandhi’s reply to the EC notice. “We have filed an appropriate and detailed response. We are certainly not sharing it with the press,” he said.
“All I can assure you is that detailed reasons have been given to demonstrate that there is absolutely no question of violation of the model code of conduct,” he told newspersons here.
The AICC had suggested on Monday that Ms Gandhi did not name Narendra Modi, but had the entire state administration, including the chief minister, in mind when she had made those remarks.
The party has been dismissing as “outrageous” the attempts to equate Ms Gandhi with Mr Modi, and has been insisting that the model code of conduct had not been violated by her as she had only pointed to the “political failures of the government.”
The EC, in its notice to the Congress president issued on Sunday, was prima facie of the view that the statement made in Ms Gandhi’s speech – “those running the Gujarat government are liars, betrayers and merchants of fear and death” – amounted to violation of the provisions of model code of conduct. It had quoted clause 1 and 4 of Item I of the code, which prevented parties from making communal references or making personal attacks against political figures.
Other people who filed their replies with the EC on Tuesday are AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh and BJP leader V K Malhotra. While Mr Singh was issued the notice for speaking of Hindu terrorists in Gujarat, Mr Malhotra was sought to be put in the dock for his accusations against Ms Gandhi of being biased against Hindus.
Mr Singh in his reply denied that he ever uttered those words as reported in the newspaper clippings, which have been enclosed with the notice. “I may also clarify that if the entire speech which is a subject matter of notice is considered dispassionately by the Commission, it will be crystal clear that I have not referred to or criticised any of the aspects of private life of any BJP leader nor have I criticised or made allegations on unverified and distorted facts,” he said.
Dear Matt ITS FOR YOU
Who owns the media in India ?
There are several major publishing groups in India, the most prominent among them being the Times of India Group, the Indian Express Group, the Hindustan Times Group, The Hindu group, the Anandabazar Patrika Group, the Eenadu Group, the Malayalam Manorama Group, the Mathrubhumi group, the Sahara group, the Bhaskar group, and the Dainik Jagran group. Let us see the ownership of different media agencies.NDTV: A very popular TV news media is funded by Gospels of Charity in Spain supports Communism. Recently it has developed a soft corner towards Pakistan because Pakistan President has allowed only this channel to be aired in Pakistan. Indian CEO Prannoy Roy is co-brother of Prakash Karat, General Secretary of Communist party of India. His wife and Brinda Karat are sisters.India Today which used to be the only national weekly who supported BJP is now bought by NDTV!! Since then the tone has changed drastically and turned into Hindu bashing. CNN-IBN: This is 100 percent funded by Southern Baptist Church with its branches in all over the world with HQ in US. The Church annually allocates $800 million for promotion of its channel. Its Indian head is Rajdeep Sardesai and his wife Sagarika Ghosh.Times group list:Times Of India, Mid-Day, Nav-Bharth Times, Stardust, Femina, Vijaya Times, Vijaya Karnataka, Times now (24- hour news channel) and many more. Times Group is owned by Bennet & Coleman. ‘World Christian Council’ does 80 percent of the Funding, and an Englishman and an Italian equally share balance 20 percent. The Italian Robertio Mindo is a close relative of Sonia Gandhi.Star TV: It is run by an Australian, who is supported by St. Peters Pontificial Church Melbourne.Hindustan Times: Owned by Birla Group, but hands have changed since Shobana Bhartiya took over. Presently it is working in Collobration with Times Group.The Hindu: English daily, started over 125 years has been recently taken over by Joshua Society, Berne, Switzerland. N.Ram’s wife is a Swiss national. Indian Express: Divided into two groups. The Indian Express and new Indian Express (southern edition)ACTS Christian Ministries have major stake in the Indian Express and later is still with the Indian counterpart. Eeenadu: Still to date controlled by an Indian named Ramoji Rao. Ramoji Rao is connected with film industry and owns a huge studio in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Jyothi: The Muslim party of Hyderabad known as MIM along with a Congress Minister has purchased this Telgu daily very recently. The Statesman: It is controlled by Communist Party of India. Kairal TV: It is controlled by Communist party of India (Marxist)Mathrubhoomi: Leaders of Muslim League and Communist leaders have major investment.Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle: Is owned by a Saudi Arabian Company with its chief Editor M.J. Akbar.The ownership explains the control of media in India by foreigners. The result is obvious.
Kangressi Spokesman Mr. Abhishek Singhvi, Mr Digvijay Singh and Jayanti ….are known liars ….
Finally someone from media talks positive about ‘Namoji’.
http://www.timesnow.tv/frmUAddBlogComments.aspx?Blogid=33
Navika, Hats off ! astonishing article.
Dear Prashant this is for you!
That rubbish is a joke thats been doing the rounds for the last one year!
Nobody thought some people would believe it!
Let me forward this post to all the journalists…
I have taken a screenshot, in case someone deletes it
HOHOHO.. India Today bashing Hindus?
Mathrubhoomi with Communists? recently mathurbhoomi faced death threats from CPIM goondas.
CNN-IBN 100 % funded, hahahahaa
Hindu by Joshua Society? HAHHAHAHA
Man, this is just super. Made my day.
Always wanted to know what some of you guys are really like!
It’s funny Indian media not being owned by the same group, still having a very consistent vicious anti modi and anti gujurat bias. ( god forbid you vote for modi ).
It will be a historic win for Modi because he had to contend with and beat the mass media, kangress, and the holier-than-thou pseudo-seculars.
That’s some doing ! and that too based on his record of development, progress, and investment which are not yet ’sexy’ in India. Look at what happened to chandrababu naidu.
The media on the other hand has seen the light, and to avoid looking like complete morons have started showing seemingly unbiased reports, now entertaining the fact that Modi can win. oh my !
Modi will wipe the floor with the kangress, and the media and psuedo-seculars can cry and whine about it, that’s the only thing they are good at.
Not only that Prashant, Saamna is owned by the Anglican Church, and the Organiser by the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Promise. Bal Thackeray’s real name is Bil Thackersey. Narendra Modi is Norbert Morgan.
Media : mommy Modi beat me again !
mommy : really, why dont you hit him back ?
Media : I tried, I threw everthing in my dirty book at him, falsified reports of progress, biased communal reporting, defended terrorists, ran a literal campaign against him, still didnt work
mommy : But what did Modi do to you, to start a fight ?
Media : I just dont like him, mommy, he doesnt believe in hating hindus, doesnt pray to our Goddess Sonia italiano, besides he doesnt even speak good english, the language of our macaulay forefathers. he killed a terrorist, oh the horror !
mommy : oh my poor baby, just ignore him, when he wins, that will be your revenge.
How many times do I have to say this – media, Congress, everyone knows Modi will win. Several detailed explanations have come in the media about why despite Modi’s good work, why media does not forget 2002.
The fight with Modi is because of the kind of person that he is consistently. You may prefer to look at his good side, we look at the bad.
And media has been after him for 5 years, and will be after him too for a very long time.
Why is everyone acting surprised about it?
NO body is acting Surprised…But pointing that Media has Sold THEIR iman to 10 janpath.
In fact being a common Man its Good that Media keeps close Watch on Modi,BJP so they need to be careful….and concentrate on welfare of people
Hence BJP will always be attentive and DO works for Common man.
if we elect 10 janpath then Media just goes to sleep.
its better to have BJP as then we get Active Media
Matt,
thank you, thank you =)
Media should report what it sees without a bias, thats the media’s job, which the media hasnt done.
What the media has done is to try the influence the outcome of the elections, play partisan politics, AND LOST !
And that’ ok, because Modi will win anyway. Media can put it’s tail between it’s legs, and cry about it.
The Media has made itself irrelevant by its reporting. Indian journalists are a friggin joke.
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