Author: Our Special Correspondent
Publication: BJP Today
Date: August 16-31, 2002
Introduction: Elections send shivers
down opposition spine
Opposition parties and some sections
of the media are experiencing nightmares at the very thought of the State
Assembly elections in Gujarat being held because they are aware that all
the campaign of calumny against the BJP Government and its Chief Minister
Narendra Modi will not deter the people of the State from re-electing the
BJP for another 5-year term.
The Congress Party in particular
is so scared of the polls that it is firing every weapon in its armoury
in order to somehow stall the elections, which should normally be held
by late September so that the first session of the new Assembly is held
before October 5, the day on which the six month period between two consecutive
sessions of a State Assembly elapses (Art. 174 (1) of the Constitution).
However, the date has to be fixed
by the Election Commission, which has taken a bold step in announcing the
dates of elections in Jammu and Kashmir even though there are daily attacks
by terrorists and the Pakistani Army across the Line of Control and about
for lakh Kashmiri Pandit refugees (in their own country) are still living
in camps. The Commission has decided to set up special booths for them
in Delhi, Jammu and Udhampur in order to enable them cast their votes.
The Congress and other parties are
insisting that polls cannot be held till peace is restored in Gujarat.
Later in this story, we will report what Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Modi has to say about this.
However, one is amused at the attempt
of a well known English weekly published from Kottayam at trying to arouse
passions by writing stories on the one band and publishing a photograph
of a terrified man (apparently a Muslim) who is about to be killed by "Hindu
communists", on its cover (Aug 4, 2002 issue).
The journal in question, the Week,
had featured in the BJP TODAY earlier (May 16-31 issue) when we were constrained
to point out that its own findings through an opinion poll were entirely
contradictory to the stories on the Gujarat incidents it carried in that
issue. In this issue too they perform the same drama. We however, appreciate
that like in its earlier issue, the Week has not hesitated to publish statistics
contradicting the stance it takes in the stories published. We had done
this on the earlier occasion too.
One might only add that this effort
on the part of the Kottayam-based weekly reminds one of Oliver Goldsmith's
poem "The Village Schoolmaster" in which the teacher is projected as one
who goes on arguing even though he has been defeated conclusively in the
wordy duel.
First, the photograph on the front
cover with the caption of "Harvest of Hate". Alongside is the picture of
a terrified person entreating his would be killers to spare his life. Well,
for the information of the WEEK, that person is still alive today and his
picture with a smiling face had appeared in several newspapers.
Secondly, the "Exclusive Opinion
Poll" conducted by the weekly in association with TN Sofres Mode. We are
reproducing the graphics which show that Narendra Modi is way ahead in
the heart and minds of the people of Gujarat, the BJP need not worry about
challenges from the Congress and other parties (if there are any), a large
majority of the people do not think Modi was negligent in controlling the
riots, 68 per cent of the people approve of the dissolution of the State
Assembly, 73 per cent of the Hindus and 71 per cent of the Muslims think
that the election will be fair and 62 per cent of the Hindus and 65 per
cent Muslims think there will not be tension during the poll.
This is an eye opener for many who
see "blood in the ballot" in Gujarat but nothing whatsoever in Jammu and
Kashmir.
