“…कुछ छटपटाहट रही होगी भीतर आपके अंदर भी…लेकिन आज के बाद शायद वो संकट भी नहीं रहेगा..मुक्ति का आनंद भी रहेगा..आपकी मूलभूत जो सोच रही होगी उसके अनुसार कार्य करने का, सोचने का, मार्ग बताने का अवसर भी मिलेगा..” (You must have felt some desperation…but after this day, even that won’t be a problem…there will be joy of freedom…and absolute independence to act or guide others according to your fundamental Beliefs)
– PM Modi’s Farewell message for Outgoing VP Mohammad Hamid Ansari
The Background:
In his last interview as India’s vice-president, Mohammad Hamid Ansari mentioned that there is a growing sense of insecurity among the Muslims in India. He asserted on the fact that the “ambience of acceptance” is now under siege. Hamid Ansari, invoked intolerance and cow vigilantism and comments made by some BJP leaders regarding the Muslims in the Country. He also said that he had flagged the issue of intolerance with PM Modi, Home Minister and other Cabinet Ministers.
This is not the first time that Hamid Ansari acted un-vice-presidential, He is in fact notorious for flashing victim card at an alarming regularity, and acting like the representative of Muslims. He has been the longest Serving Vice President of India, a record he shares with Sarvapalli Dr. Radha Krishnan and yet he believed that even the presidents and vice presidents shouldn’t be politically neutral.
PM Modi’s Response:
In a four-and-a-half-minute long message, PM Modi highlighted the wisdom and diplomatic prowess of Hamid Ansari. Now note the words in double quotes carefully:
PM Modi talked about Ansari’s Family legacy and elucidated how his family has been a family of “ardent Congress Workers” who also participated in the “Khilafat Movement”. PM Modi spoke about how Hamid Ansari has been a career diplomat, most of whose time was spent in the “Middle East”, his “सोच का दायरा” (Way of thinking) has been shaped by his experience there. PM Modi referred Hamid Ansari as a bright alumnus of the “Prestigious Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Milia Islamia” which also “enhanced” his way of thinking. PM Modi then said, “You must have felt some desperation…but after this day, even that won’t be a problem…there will be joy of freedom…and absolute independence to act or guide others according to your fundamental Beliefs”
PM Modi’s farewell speech for the Outgoing VP is a lesson in Sarcasm. He took multiple jibes at the Outgoing VP and flattened his claims in a speech pregnant with Mockery. The word “मूलभूत सोच” (Fundamental Belief) was PM Modi’s final fatal blow. It is true that a man can wear an outwardly façade of simplicity and honesty and polished English-speaking charms but the innate feelings and the fundamental thought process never change. Hamid Ansari was a similar English Speaking Polished Gentleman who walked and talked in his diplomatic splendour and an accent he picked up on his many foreign tours but beneath the layers of pretence lies a devout Muslim stuck in Medieval ages, a Congress Worker who needs to return the favours of the Party and the Family and a vicious divisive man who knows nothing but to invoke victimhood and ignite communal passions.
The basic inference of PM Modi’s speech was that VP Hamid Ansari was never a Vice President but a spokesperson of Muslims. It is good that PM Modi took on the Outgoing Vice President. Some jibes are better ignored, some require mild rebuttals but rants like these deserve the language in which PM Modi spoke today.
Watch the Full Video here:
