Wordsmith Modi at it again

BJP star campaigner Narendra Modi may have raised the development pitch, but the Hindutva undertone in his political speeches can hardly be missed.

Now, the Gujarat chief minister, known to mesmerise crowds at poll rallies through his oratory skills, has come up with a new catchphrase, Delhi ni sultanate, to indicate alleged minority influence at the Centre. But this is not the first time that Modi is innovating to impress his message upon the public. During the Gujarat assembly elections in 2007, the BJP poster boy launched Modi masks, which became an instant hit. 

During the previous assembly elections immediately after the Godhra carnage and riots in 2002, Modi’s favourite words were Panch crore Gujarati, tame ek divas jago, hu panch varsh jagish (If your 5 crore Gujaratis stay up for a day, I will stay put for five years)’.

During the last civic elections Modi used to say Badshah-begam na shashan ma thi mukt thava mate Bhajap ne mat apo (To end the reign of badshah and begum, vote for the BJP, referring to then Muslim mayor Anisha Begum Mirza)’.

Gujarat is considered a Hindutva laboratory for the BJP and Modi wants to always remain in public memory.  Nowadays whenever the BJP leader wants to target the UPA government led by Congress, he begins, ‘Hu Delhi ni sultanate ne puchva mangu chu (I would like to ask the government in Delhi)’.

The nation’s erstwhile Muslim rulers would call Delhi Delhi Sultanate and Modi is using the phrase to suggest that the ruling Congress in Delhi relies on minority vote as against the BJP’s dependence on Hindutva.

Human rights activist Girish Patel said: “Modi may be projecting a development agenda, but he is also using Hindutva for convenience. He knows development and Hindutva both please the middle class.” 

Political expert Ghanshyam Shah said, “Modi uses such phrases because he knows they attract voters.”

The BJP disagrees. “The UPA has done nothing for the public. It is corrupt. It has ruled like emperors who used to exploit the public,” party spokesman Yamal Vyas said.