A series of State Department cables released to The Hindu pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act request suggest that the U.S.’ initial impression of erstwhile Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a contentious political candidate with a potentially uncertain future on the national stage gave way, by 2013, to a much clearer realisation that he was on his way to the top.
A September 2011 cable authored by the U.S.’ Mumbai consulate (DTG: 280339Z SEP 11; CONFIDENTIAL, SENSITIVE) noted, “BJP rivals praise Modi but don’t make room on the political stage,” “Muslim community unlikely to forgive and forget,” and “Mixed media response to Modi’s [fast for unity/harmony]”.
The cable highlighted Mr. Modi’s failure to apologise around the time of a ‘fast for harmony,’ saying he, “framed the entire state of Gujarat as the victim of the 2002 riots,” and “While trying to seem conciliatory, he did not apologise for his role in the violence and labelled all criticism of himself as an insult to… Gujarat.”
Six years after the Gujarat riots the cable cognised Mr. Modi’s apparent frustration towards his critics, underscoring his remark: “During my fast, I will continue to pray to the Almighty to give me strength so that I do not develop or retain any ill-feeling or bitterness towards those who defamed Gujarat or me by making false allegations.”
The U.S. seemed to believe that even then, some senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and their allies were unconvinced about Mr. Modi’s prospects as a national leader, for example highlighting that erstwhile Lok Sabha opposition leader and current Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, “praised Modi for his leadership and success, but pointedly referred to him as a Gujarati.”
Similarly the cable quoted for BJP leader L.K. Advani saying that the BJP had several leaders who “have the capacity discharge any responsibility the party gives them.”
It also noted that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa “made it clear… that she was not supporting Modi as Prime Minister at this time, only supporting his fast for harmony.”
Bihar Chief Minister and BJP ally Nitish Jumar did not attend the event, the cable said, and his party’s spokesman “criticised Modi’s fast as a public relations stunt.”
Finally with regards to the Muslim community, the cable added, “In a September 16 meeting with New Delhi PolOff [redacted name] said that the fast would be Modi’s way of showing remorse and appealing to the Muslim community to move beyond the events of 2002.”
Despite these early misgivings, the trickle of positive reviews of Mr. Modi’s political prospects quickened into a flood of approbation as recorded by U.S. diplomatic posts.
A December 2011cable authored by the U.S.’ Chennai consulate (DTG: 070925Z DEC 11; CONFIDENTIAL, SENSITIVE, NOFORN) said, “[Redacted name] told Post he sees no evidence against … Modi and offered praise for his efforts in development and combating corruption.”
Another source was quoted saying to U.S. officials, “I am no admirer of the C.M. (Modi), but there’s no evidence against him. I tell them, show me the evidence… There’s a national push, a national movement, to get him. But there’s no evidence.”
By 2013, there was no mistaking the U.S.’ recognition of the rise of Mr. Modi both within his party as well as a leader at the national level.
A heavily-redacted cable dated July 2013 (DTG: 191207Z JUL 13; CONFIDENTIAL, SENSITIVE) from the New Delhi embassy to the Secretary of State, marked ‘Immediate,’ had a section titled, “Modi’s strong messaging and party base made him BJP’s inevitable choice.”
“Whether by intention or design, Modi’s recent statements on Hindu nationalism and communal issues have also captured the media’s full attention,” the cable said, with special emphasis on Mr. Modi’s July 13 interview to Reuters.
The cable appeared to place at front and centre Mr. Modi’s response to those urging him to apologise for the 2002 riots: “If someone else is driving a car and we’re sitting behind, even then if a puppy comes under the wheel, will it be painful or not? Of course it is. If I’m a Chief Minister or not, I’m human being. If something bad happens anywhere, it is natural to be sad.”
