Boxing Day Judgement: Snooping noose and riot relief for Modi

December 26- the boxing day seems to have put BJP’s prime ministerial candidate into a boxing ring like situation, where he gets one punch in his face while the other one got deflected at the Ahmedabad metropolitan court. The Centre decided to set up an inquiry commission to probe the snooping scandal involving a certain ‘Saheb’, who is yet to be identified but widely believed to be the Gujarat CM. The Centre’s move is clearly set to damage Modi’s credentials drawing furuious reactions from the BJP, which has vowed to challenge the Union Cabinet’s decision saying that it violates the federal scheme of India provided in the Constitution.

So, while Modi seems to be heading to the Congress’s trap in snooping case, he has got a big reprieve in one of the 2002 Gujarat riots cases. The metropolitan court has given a clean chit to Modi in the Gulbarg Society massacre case accepting the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT). Notwithstanding this clean chit, Modi has a long way to go before he could have a similar clean chit from the minority community especially the muslims. The perception is not bound by a court verdict and the perception is very strong in 2002 riot cases that Modi did not follow, what Atal Bihari Vajpayee called, ‘Rajdharma’. This perception can be compared with 1984 riots and Congress’s (Rajiv Gandhi’s, to be precise) image. Taint can’t be wiped out, but can’t be let to inflict further damage.

However, Modi supporters have got a good point to defend the BJP’s PM candidate in TV debates. But, even the ardent supporter of Modi would not deny that whatever Modi did by commission or omission during 2002 riots was right. It is impossible to fathom that a few groups of ruffians tailor-made for communal violence can kill so many people including a parliamentarian with a strong willed government present in a state. People running the government must have had a role to play directly or indirectly. If Congress governments are held responsible for 1984 and 1986 riots, how could Modi’s government be an exception in the case of 2002 riots.

Many close to Modi give him the benefit of doubt for being too new in the chair when the riots took place in Gujarat arguing that he was yet not at the helm of affairs of administration there. They also believe that when riots broke out, Modi developed cold feet as he was caught unprepared to deal with the situation. However, it is beyond the realm of logic as to why Modi did not issue a clear cut instruction to the police and civil administration that steps should be taken to esnure that no communal violence took place in Gujarat. Also, why did not Modi ask organizations like Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which are very close to BJP, to ensure that communal fabric is not disturbed and the muslims are not harmed in the aftermath of Godhra massacre. In any case micro-management of administration was not the responsibility of the Chief Minister.

Further, why did not Modi show any urgency in ensuring justice to the victims and bringing perpetrators to justice? Why did not Modi took immediate steps to allay fears among the muslims and affected hindus? Such questions are serious and pose a big challenge to Modi’s popularity and his claim for the top job in the country.