The Hindu : National : “Modi trying to provoke Centre into taking action”

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Friday, Dec 07, 2007
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“Modi trying to provoke Centre into taking action”

Special Correspondent

MANDVI (Kutch District): The former Gujarat Chief Minister, Suresh Mehta, feels that the present incumbent, Narendra Modi, was trying to provoke the Centre into taking legal action against him to become a “hero” and turn the election in his favour.

The BJP dissident, who is all set to quit the party on Saturday, said Mr. Modi’s utterances on the Sohrabuddin case was an “expression of frustration” as the situation was turning “bleak” for the ruling party. As per the present trend, the Congress was certain to win at least 110 seats in the 182-member Assembly.

“Hoping for sympathy”

Mr. Mehta, a former first class judicial magistrate, said Mr. Modi had virtually admitted his guilt in the Sohrabuddin case, and prima facie a police complaint could be registered against him. He was trying to provoke the Centre into taking action hoping that it would generate a sympathy wave in his favour. He believed that Mr. Modi would become more and more aggressive till the Centre took action.

Pointing out that Mr. Modi was trying to whip up communal passions to repeat the 2002 performance of the party, Mr. Mehta, however, believed that it would not provide the desired result. By repeatedly using the communal card, Mr. Modi had “blunted the weapon” and was unlikely to create an impact like in 2002, at least in the rural areas. The lack of response to the Tehelka expose proved the point that the communal card would not work in the present context. Besides, the Sangh Parivar outfits that helped Mr. Modi to generate the “right kind of atmosphere” were not with him now. He refused to give much credence to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s appeal to the people to support Mr. Modi, and said it was “eye-wash.” The veteran leader said Mr. Modi was causing “immense damage” to the BJP by making reckless statements like on the Sohrabuddin episode. Several of his BJP colleagues outside the State had expressed concern about the party’s future if Mr. Modi continued to behave in “such a reckless manner.”

“Meek surrender”

Unhappy with the party’s central leadership for “meekly surrendering” to Mr. Modi’s diktats, Mr. Mehta said he did not see much of a future for the BJP and said it might disintegrate slowly in the absence of a second rung leadership to take over the mantle from stalwarts such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani. “The BJP is heading the same way as most other political parties, where an individual has become larger than the organisation as in Mr. Modi’s case,” he regretted.

Mr. Mehta claimed the party had lost its sheen, which reflected in its failure to take disciplinary action against him and other dissident leaders.

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