Slap in the face of ELM

http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/24/stories/2008022450190100.htm

It is fashionable for India's spineless ELM to "invent" " facts" justifying Islamic extremism. Till 2002 , every terrorist act was attributed to Babri Masjid - never mind the fact that the masjid came down in 1992 but Kashmiri terrorism started at least 3 years earlier. From 2002, Akshardam, Malgaon, varanasi, Parliament attack, IISc attack, Mumbai 7/11,Delhi Diwali Bombs, Samajhuta, Hyderabad Mecca Masjid bombs and the n- J&K terror strikes are all because of Gujarat! Not content with this, the ELM blames the "alleged" marginalization and neglect of the minorities , lack of employment and educational opportunities as the prime reasons for the "frustrated" (and innocent?) youth to turn to terrorism. By some strange logic, the Dalit and other socially backward youth - who too "allegedly" face similar hardships - never manage to get hooked to terrorism. It is only the poor and innocent minority youth. But will education and employment solve the problem and wean away Muslim youth from terrorism?

People like Yahya Iyash Kamkuttdy give the answer. An REC Calicut graduate, Yahya graduated with distinction in Engineering and was employed with GE. Why did he take to terrorism? What effect did education and employment have on his psyche? It has only made him plan heinous crimes with greater sophistication. What about the Glasgow bomber who was a doctor? Several of those arrested on terrorism charges hold post graduate degrees. Who is the ELM trying to cheat by suggesting education and employment?

Even if one were to accept the ELM's reasoning, how does it explain the spread of Islamic extremism from New York to Bali? It is an indisputable fact that this hydra-headed monster is a global phenomenon. Does the ELM say that in each of these countries the Muslims are marginalized? Isn't it ironic that people who float such senseless ideas are called "intellectuals" ? If Muslims are up in arms in every region of the world then there certainly is a problem that prevents them from co-habiting peacefully. Their retrograde customs, treatment of women, intolerance and their inclination to live in ghettos could be factors that prevent them from living in harmony with people from other faiths. Add to this a vicious propaganda of marginalization and the pseudo secular political class that merrily divides people for votes, you have the spark necessary to set the house on fire.

It is high time that the ELM stopped pandering to minority interests and start treating issues objectively. Every religion -not just Islam- has some historical reason or the other to be rebellious. Can everyone take to arms?By refusing to accept that certain Islamic elements are being unreasonable and unjust , the ELM is only running away from the problem. If it does not have the guts to take the bull by its horns, it may jolly well shut up and leave the job to more competent entities while it continues to lick the shoes of jihadis. By sympathizing and justifying extremism, the ELM is making this world more dangerous.

Other Papers's views on Modi's win

Hindustan Times:

At the end of the day, the sweetest revenge for Modi came from several predominantly Muslim areas where the BJP won. Gujarat’s 45 lakh Muslims form over 9 per cent of the state’s population

In criticising Modi, his critics have long painted Gujarat’s Muslims as little more than second-class citizens, although the community has a literacy rate of 73 per cent — higher than the national average for all communities, and fares better than the national average for all religions on several counts including sex ratio and work participation.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=476631e0-235e-4f5f-b55b-4a9a7a0f34cdGujaratVotes_Special&&Headline=Assembly+polls%3a+Narendra+Modi+is+king+of+Gujarat

Economic Times:

The election is a major setback for the Congress, which led itself to believe that mere condemnation of Mr Modi as someone fronting for the saffron cabal would deliver Gujarat to a Sonia Gandhi nominee. The Congress' seething rhetoric against Mr Modi during the campaign clearly didn't find many takers. The hyperbole, usually associated with the Left, was used to paint Mr Modi as a violator of human rights. The election results showed that this campaign strategy, besides earning the party praise from similar minded quarters, did precious little for the Congress's fortunes.

Mr Modi virtually repeated his party's last assembly election's performance by ensuring the victory of 117 MLAs in the 182-member House. The outcome showed his grip over rural as well as urban pockets of the state. Barring a minor setback in central Gujarat, the BJP posted impressive victories all across the state, including the Leuva Patel-dominated Saurashtra and tribal South Gujarat.

Defying anti-incumbency factor, rebellion within the BJP ranks and a high decibel campaign against him by his rivals — they fought the election on a "Modi as the murderer" template — the chief minister demonstrated that good governance coupled with charisma is a potent mix. While the Congress did not even nominate a chief ministerial candidate, not to speak of a charismatic rival, Mr Modi was virtually the BJP's candidate in all 182 seats of the state.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/ET/navigator.asp?Daily=ETCH&login=default&AW=1198731079250

Chindu calls this demagogic:Place An election rally in rural Gujarat.Scene: Chief minister Narendra Modi asks, “Who brought electricity to your homes?”; “Who ensured water supply for your fields?”; “Who brought the motorable road to your doorstep?” The crowds go into a frenzy responding — “Narendrabhai,” “Narendrabhai.” Above the din, Mr Modi says, “So vote for me.”

Among his other dialogues that usually had the crowd in splits was the one about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Responding to Mr Singh’s observation at an election rally that those who were not with Mr Modi had to live “Bhagwan bharose” (left at the mercy of god), Mr Modi replied thumpingly that it was true that Gujaratis lived “Bhagwan bharose” as there had been seven years of good rains in the state. “Dr Manmmohan Singh aap bhi Bhagwan bharose raho/ Sonia ben bharose nahin/ aapka bhi bhala hoga (be at the mercy of God and not of Sonia Gandhi/ you too will prosper),” Mr Modi would joke.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2646226.cms

Congressmen and women, over the next few days, will keenly discuss the question of who is to be blamed for the Gujarat defeat. But even as they prepare to point fingers this way and that, there is one direction that has already been insulated from criticism — 10 Janpath.

Despite being the principal campaigner for the party, Congress president Sonia Gandhi will not figure in the list of those who bungled the campaign. But there is nothing new about this. In the Congress, ‘Madam’ takes the credit for the party’s electoral victories but is kept beyond the pale of defeat even if she has not been able to deliver.

Only this time, the story is not that simple as the contest was billed as Modi vs Sonia show. In the absence of the Congress having a tall enough Gujarat leader to take on Narendra Modi, the Congress president had to take on the mantle of the principal opponent. And Ms Gandhi took her job seriously. She addressed 10 rallies (13 if her son and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s meeting are also added) which were all dubbed as the “massive” and seen as “turning points” in the Congress campaign until the results were out. This is the highest number of rallies she has addressed for any state in recent times other than Uttar Pradesh, which is considered home turf of the Nehru-Gandhi family.

So, even as party leaders look set to take the blame on themselves, the explanation might not wash as it was the Congress that raised the stakes of this election by pitting its top leadership against Mr Modi. Along with Ms Gandhi even PM addressed rallies attacking Mr Modi directly

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2647135.cms