Indian political aftermath of a reaction is polarised into two poles. The one tending to praise Modi are termed as ‘bhakts’. The other pole is occupied by a disconnected lot who connect him with every problem and despise is something I would call as ‘the anti bhakts’ ( if there is a plane crash in Bolivia, blame it on Modi).
Fill them with so called intellectuals, a bit of leftover leftists, an array of galvanised media, few NGOs and Lutyens together have created an industry of sorts. This anti Modi lobby like a fledging multinational has branched and grown over the period of time.
Unfortunately there is no rational path in between when we see Modi through the prism of performance appraisal. As a matter of fact, he happens to be our Prime Minister and hence its necessary to view him on the basis of this premise.
When purported shortcomings in his promises and the actual ground is highlighted, it’s amplified into greater amounts. Yet when he does an exceptional turnaround of sorts it’s not enough to ratify his colossal juggernaut.
Criticism has been Modi’s home and like an excellent home maker he has kept it in good humour.
Ever since he scripted his way from a chai wala to being the leader of the largest democracy in the world, this story of the rise of a Phoenix is overshadowed by his impeccable way of every time pushing his detractors into the mud.
As Modi wave has blossomed into greater heights, the ground below has seen this anti Modi lobby depicted like a single flowing flood stream which gangs up with his different rivals of the day to increase in size.
Like a video game this combination has built levels and with every level he surpasses, it invariably creates his own accord. Although haters would still love to backlash saying he did using cheat codes.
May it be that intra party churning to be the first amongst equals in a galaxy of second generational leadership, may it be that inter party attempt of cornering him as an political outsider to Lutyens Delhi or may it be his show down with an increasingly intolerant media who tried in futile to check mate him on tolerance, he was expected to flutter and fail by this intermixing combination of haters.
However Modi has single handedly outwitted them all. This very process of ‘anti Modism’ had learnt to crawl subtly in his early days into politics which gathered wings and meat in the advent of his rise as a figure head in Indian politics.
As one of the young strategists in a recently BJP emboldened state of Gujarat , Modi was sent to Delhi as a fallout in an internal tussle of brinkmanship in the state unit. In the midst of a dominant era of Keshubhais and Vaghelas, he passed his first test of being able to take on the old guard as it was widely believed to be challenging over various warring factions.
His entry into the world of criticism began with Godhra incident and the following riots which went on to establish brand ‘Blame it on Modi’ dubbed in the media.
As Barkha Dutt, Rajdeep and company covered riots for the first time in a 24 hour news channel generation, those sensational turn of events were captured and Modi’s face was plastered as an antagonist.
People say riots helped him to gather momentum for a catchment of votes in the next elections, but it’s more than true that all those who vilified him made a career out of riots coverage. Being touted as a ‘laboratory of Hindutva’, he single handedly proved them wrong by managing Gujarat to transform it into an economic prowess.
The hate brigade raising his statements of minority hatred had to eat their words as he was voted as the best CM on many forums. An ensuing projection of a left backed media proposed ‘why burnt Gujarat’ was rejected and transformed into a ‘vibrant Gujarat’ phenomenon.
But then yes the aftermath investigations created a new bigotry of his role and involvement in sponsoring the riots which was again spearheaded by the lobby. This time he was into a systemic triangulation of a hostile UPA ,its agencies and some NGOs who together failed to muster a single credible dent in his political shelf life.
The court monitored SIT was unable to find a shred for Modi’s purported role and the Supreme Court didn’t entertain the plea to question the clean chit.
As the anti Modi forces lost the first bout, they mixed with a non-existing anti-incumbency factor to vouch for him to be booted out of power. ‘Maut Ka Saudagar’ accelerated his 2007 win but it was no doubt, he comfortably was able to defeat anti-incumbency the third time and emerge victorious again in 2012.
As the national stage was set, the bugle of his ensuing failure was doing the rounds. The lobby started clinging to coalition politics, a fragmented mandate that was the engine of ruling dispensation then. Modi was supposedly an authoritarian and this was made look toxic to manage coalitions and keep the opposing flock together.
In an drama of sorts the internal churning within the BJP was out in the open which added fuel to the fire. Advani left in a huff and again the anti Modi lobby salivated at the prospects of compromise.
However the groundswell was too much to adhere and he emerged as the first amongst equals to win party’s de facto prime ministerial candidate for his party. A disillusioned anti lobby called it BJPs defeat even before the battle had begun and touted it their Waterloo in the hands of prophesied minority voters turning out in large numbers.
This time exit polls were courted to spell intimidating mathematics to indicate Modi cannot cobble enough nunbers to form a government.As the campaign for 2014 began in a much pomp and splendour from Haryana, polls steadily showed NDA to romp after the pace quickened.Can Modi manage a coalition? Became their new war cry.
Mathematics which has governed India for the last thirty years on the premise of coalition lost its calculations. BJP and Modi secured a complete majority marking the demise of numbers hold sway over governance.
The anti-lobby like that monster from Jeepers creepers again changed their face but not their inherent intent.
Their alaap made a new form as contours of not managing a coalition was remoulded into how will Modi manage a complex Indian diaspora and realise their secular aspirations?
Even if he had already won most of his bouts, the anti-lobby now became a full circle. Along with the existing para troopers of elite and so called intellectuals, opposition especially with the likes of Nitish and Kejriwal became the new consultants on board to facilitate a new team of systemic nay sayers.
When Modi assumed the top job, criticism became more fierce and new battles lines were opened in the name of tolerance. The situation in the country had never deteriorated however secularism was shown to be on the death bed.
The fringes making out with issues such as beef and cows were amplified as a pattern rather than treating them as isolated incidents which were meant to be a blistering attack on the PM. His silence was equated with Manmohan Singh and a gherao was constituted with lacklustre bundle of issues to be used to tarnish him.
His foreign tours were mocked as an over expenditure (by people like Kejriwal who spent crores on commercials) where in actuality his Madison square garden reception was symbolic to the kind of robust foreign policy built in Indian sphere of influence that was marred by a weak predecessor. Clean India campaign was launched, knives were drawn.
GST was passed, stealing credit was highlighted. 65000 crores were declared in black money disclosure scheme, the lobby resorted to other rhetorics.
Constructive criticism paved way to destructive disparagement.
As a matter of fact, not attacking Modi in fear or a retribution was touted to be an attack on fundamental rights but crossing boundaries to attack him that spilled over to national interests were left in the lurch.
Pathankot and Uri heightened anti lobby stir to new heightened proportions with some calling it a failure of his policy and some comparing it to just condemn and forget approach of erstwhile coalition govts. 56 inch chest remark emerged again and the lobby diversified into a new found rant.
The fix was getting aggressive would make the liberals (a subset of anti-lobby ) reprimand killing peace initiative and taking a soft approach will fire them to question bold action promises.
As the position became tantalising with the nation waiting in bated breath, there was a growing sense of disappointment over a supposed UPA style just condemnation no substance approach.
As the news of Indian army embarking on surgical strikes across LOC came out in the open, the anti-lobby marksmen were just shunned into a pin dropping silence.
The Prime minister had sanctioned the operation killing two birds with one stone. The first were the terrorists across the border who were targeted directly upon via the military and the second were those intellectual terrorists inside here who were sent into an untimely hibernation via choke slam of a policy somersault.
However like a losing wrestler in a competition , they again did stage a comeback feebly with some questioning the timing of the strike, some refusing to believe the authenticity and some even giving Pakistani news sources as evidence of claims of a conspiracy. (Sanjiv Bhatt referred the newspaper dawn)
Instead of mounting a constructive criticism of the Modi govt and its polices or promises, the anti bhakt lobby is emerging as a mere counter to which is nothing more than a razzmatazz of self glorification and an attempt to position yourself as an idealistic bunch of thinkers protesting the govt.
In reality its becoming more sort of an industry that is summing up like networking to remain in spotlight.
The parallels are drawn. Narendra Modi like Sachin is occupied at the strikers end scoring with his free flowing timing and intent to steer the nation to win.
The anti Modi system bowling all kinds of body line era deliveries and tight fielding are waiting in the sun to displace or upset him and take his scalp. The chants grow louder every time the ball crosses the boundary and the stunned opposition of an anti Modi lobby helplessly can do is just watch into submission.