For the Congress, the fact that the former Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah is behind bars for his alleged involvement in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case is clearly a matter of some satisfaction. It has put its principal political, the BJP, on the defensive. Simultaneously, the Congress hopes this will send out a positive message to the minorities, especially in Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly elections are due this year, in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
If the BJP's central leaders turned down Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's invitation to lunch on the eve of the current Parliament session, accusing the UPA government of “misusing” the Central Bureau of Investigation, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi reads the current activities of the CBI as a plot against his State: “They have been maligning me for the last eight years. Now they have started maligning the State's judicial system,” he said in a no-holds barred speech at a rally in Ahmedabad on Saturday, and then asked, “Am I doing anything wrong by fighting terrorism?”
The Congress sees the BJP's response to the CBI's line of action in the Sohrabuddin case as a sign that “the party is on the run,” especially as it has not evinced any enthusiasm for an early discussion on the CBI in Parliament. So, what is the message that the Congress is hoping will go out from all this?
Rejecting the idea that the party hopes to make political gains in Gujarat, especially as reports are coming in of the possibility of the investigating agencies closing in on Mr. Modi himself, Congress general secretary in-charge of the State, B.K. Hariprasad, told The Hindu “For us, what is most important is that people should not lose faith in the legal system. Everybody in this country is entitled to a fair trial and no one, howsoever powerful, is above the law – that's the message. People cannot be eliminated in encounters.”
But whatever the impact the Congress hopes the current investigations will make nationally, what does it hope to achieve in Gujarat? In the State, the party, wary of giving Mr. Modi any advantage, is maintaining a very low profile, occasionally indulging in some verbal sparring, as Leader of the Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil did on July 28. “Whenever there is an atrocity on a woman, the tormentor loses power,” Mr. Gohil said, citing the example of Sita and Ravana from the Ramayana, while referring to the murder of Kausarbi, Sohrabuddin's wife.
“Politically, Modi is still strong, if one is to judge by the number of people showing up at his rallies,” a senior Congress leader from Gujarat, analysing the situation, told The Hindu. “But there is public disapproval of the encounters, and that is reflected in the Gujarati media, which is reporting on the current events in a neutral fashion, unlike at the time of the riots in 2002.” Nevertheless, the Congress morale is low in the State, with party leaders acknowledging that they don't expect to do well in the coming local body elections. They are now resting their hopes on Mr. Modi being called in for questioning by the CBI. “If the CBI has enough evidence and is able to arrest Mr. Modi,” the Congress leader said, “then things could change radically. The BJP would be forced to replace him, and given the divisions in the BJP State unit, we could then get some advantage.”
Clearly, the Congress is a demoralised force in Gujarat: as long as Mr. Modi rules the roost in the State, it does not see much of a role for itself there. Meanwhile, it is banking on sending out a strong message to the minorities elsewhere — and praying that this issue will help to break the new found unity in the Opposition, in evidence in Parliament.
Keywords: Gujarat fake encounters, Amit Shah case, Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter, Narendra Modi, Congress, BJP
I hope the Congress party loses control and never comes back to power.
India is as corrupt and disorderly country as it can get. Thanks to Cong to have brought the executive/legislative/judicial (and police) branches to a joke. Modi and BJP have spectacularly well in every opportunity. Even their mistakes are nothing compared to a corrupt Cong. But backward India voters (and vote fixing) will continue to support cong and will lead India to a pseudo dictatorship under a foreigner.
Why are people thinking that CBI is working on the orders of the ruling party? The fake encounter case of Sohrabuddin Sheikh has been directed by Supreme court for investigation. Ruling party does not have control over Supreme Court. Do they?
It is not just Sohrabuddin who was killed, it was his wife too who was killed and her ashes were thrown into river to conceal all the witnesses. Modi might have provided good governance and administration for one section of the Gujarati community, but the administration's evil doings must be investigated and punished by our Judicial System.
Contrast:
Modi being hauled up for the elimination of a known criminal with terror links..who happens to be a Muslim.
The congress ministers being let off (by the same CBI) for established crime and killings of shiks in 1984.
Pawar is let off for his roles in multiple scams
Raja is let of the telecom scam
Koda for the multi million/ crore scam
Quattarochi for various scams
Soni Gandhi - insurance / citizenship
Anderson - Bhopal (wonder who in the ruling party benifitted)
The Common'wealth' games scam!!
and the list goes on.
We defiitely know how credible the judical system is under the Congress.....
I am amazed to see how overwhelmingly readers are supporting encounter killings. Is the right to a fair trial reserved to few individuals only. What happened to the doctorine of presumed innocent till found guilty. Hindu fanacism has grown to freightening heights. I really wonder if your readers supporting this killing would have the same view had the victim been a hindu or some one close to them.
It is very sad to read comments praising Modi and other politicians who, in my opinion, are responsible for various riots and chaos in our country. The british used "Divide and Rule" tactics to rule us for more than a century and our current politicians use the same tactics to stay in power. It is always frustrating to see the same politicians get elected time after time even when the corruption is transparent to us. Hopefully, all this will change in future.
We would be seeing today another Afjal Guru like situation if Sohrabuddin was not killed in the so called "Fake Encounter".
This so called English media and pseudo-secular forces would have made a big cry & foul if Afjal Guru was killed in an encounter. even if he had attacked our highest institution
I think CBI should try to figure out how many crimes did Sohrabuddin commit, instead of investigating if it is real or fake encounter.
And why is not CBI or Congress implicating Kashmir or Ap CM's for the terrorist being killed in their states
If we will support Modi or Shah type people then we can say that we are not leaving in democratic country,we have to see bothside of the coin for this we have judicail system. judicary will see all the concernd conflict and will decide. if Modi or shah is good then Hitler was also good, Mosulini,Osama bin laden,and Bush was also good.
unfortunately it is very sad to read such comments and that
congress is trying to gain political meilage from this issue in Gujarat.
As far as facts and actions are concerned. Mr. Modi can be protrayed
as a mass murderer who murders his own subjects whom he has to protect
by law. It was this law which gave him this position which he clearly
misused against it own subjects the minority in the state of Gujarat.
Terming as a fight against Terrosism is as fake as the encounter itself, whose hidden motive is hatred against the minority community
who are well the rightful citizen of this motherland India, that the minority community which ever religion they follow or do not follow any religion, its their country and a free choice of life, nobody can dare to subjugate them.
Why congress is so much worried about Mr. Narendra Modi?. Why they are not thinking about Kashmir issues, Afsal Guru, Ajmal Kasab?. It seems Congress needs only anti-nationalist's votes and support. This will finally splits our nation into two.
It is not congress it supreme court who ordered the enquiry, whether sohrabuddin is a criminal or not nobody have the right to kill him, we have a judicial system to be followed. It is mere mis use of power. If it is allowed to kill a person who the administration dont like then they will start killing the opposition also, this is called fascism and and supporters of Mr. Modi proves that their is no difference between Mr. Modi and Adolf Hitler
CBI should have somebody like TN Seshan until then it will be a tool for the Government of India.
As for the current case against Modi's Govt, it is a waste effort by Congis. Modi has done a good job as far as governance is concerned.
I think the CBI should look into the countless number of encounter cases that happen everyday in India and stop worrying about an encounter that killed a terrorist.
India is a divided country. Instead if fighting Islamic terrorism, Congress Party is fighting against true nationalists in order to come to power. Bad politics is bad for the country.
Its a shame that politicians like modi and his men can get someone killed and try to get away with it. And its more shameful that some idiots insted of waiting for the formal investigation to complete, start defending the accused. If Amit shah and Modi are innocent why fear from an investigation? They should set an example for for others. Its more annoying that some people compare this to Sikh roits and others. Just because sikhs suffered in 1984 is that a justification for modi and his men to get people killed and run away from investigations?
Mr Modi is no saint and certainly the wrong doings of the administration should be exposed. However, the congress seems to be obsessed with the gujarat CM for appeasing the minority community. For the party to call itself secular, yet adopt appeasement of minority as its anchor in politics is sham. Let the law take its own course. Mind you the flip flops of the CBI in politically sensitive cases to suit the tail winds of the ruling party are well known and the public has more distrust of the CBI than even the State police in certain cases. There is urgent need to reform the police system and the functioning of the CBI to inject confidence in the public about our internal police forces and the investigative agencies.
National government is demoralising the state government by alleging and arresting the top governmental officials. Such things can weaken the administrative body of the state and will give birth to rise like naxal activities in the state. What a shame to National administraton of our country
Dear Sir,
Lust of power,having a liasion with communal forces,caste based approach,preference to caste and religion over merit is characteristic of Congress.The queen and her femily are everything.As far nationalistic agenda of congress,it was Congress's going back on alliance with Muslim League after UP elections in 1937 that made Jinnah change his mind from a nationalist to pro partition leader.Kashmir 1948,65,71,failure to consolidate the gains,continues to bleed India and will do so for many more years.1962 is better forgotten.I wish we had Modi at the helm of affairs in the formative years of India.He will emerge unscathed in the long run.
Harsh Sharma,Yamuna Nagar
Considering the current situation in India (Naxals, Kashmir, Gujarat, Minorities, Corruption, Unemployment, Poverty) and the fact that Congress has ruled for over 80% of the period since Independence, do we really think that Congress is a Party for Indians?? I believe it is actually a representative of Foreign forces and because Indians have always believed more in Foreign than Local, congress is still surviving as the strongest party in India. Its coming to Power shows the control of foreign and Anti-Indian prosperity bodies on India. I am not a BJP supporter, but Mr Modi is one of the Indian leaders who can be trusted upon. Look at where he has taken Gujarat to, If congress was here they would still be following "Divide and Rule" as they are doing all over India. My Best wishes to Mr Modi and his Government!!
It looks like too many supporters of Mr Modi & his cabinet member forget that you cannot kill, murder or eliminate the suspects. We have courts & law. You cannot be a guarantor of safeguard of the people & at the same time be an executioner! Nobody is above the law!
All the culprits should be brought to jutice! So please let CBI do its job! Remember Germany? Hitler was doing lots of good things for one section of the community & other community, Jewish community had to suffer & may people got eliminated! Hitler was an evil! So don't tell me Mr Modi is great etc. I am sure you all who support Mr Modi & his company & have all the praises, will change your opinion about him if God Forbid your family member gets into fake encounter!
Funny Congress worries about people loosing faith in the justice system. Afzal guru attacked Indian parliament but is still living happily in our jail at millions in cost to tax payers (waiting to be set free in exchange for some highjacked airplane passangers). Ajmal is enjoying all amenities in Indian jail, don't know how many decades will it take to punish him. But congress is worried about the encounter of a goonda who terrified businessmen and extorted money from them, killing don't know how many innocent. And for a scapegoat, they are using Mr. Modi, one of the most popular leaders of Gujarat and also in India. Funny, Congress thinks we all are idiots. This publicity will do good to Mr. Modi.
It is high time that the media stopped hounding Modi,the only honest and efficient politician and administrator in India.It is futile to tar him a communalist.The so called fake encounters involve terrorists who are trying to destroy India.What did KPS Gill do in Punjab to eradicate the Khalistan movement.Where was the media then.Why these double standards.How come that none in the media are bothered about the horrible massacre of the Sikhs all over India in 1984.Was any congress Government either in the States or at the Centre taken to task.Call a halt to this witch hunt.
I don't know if this Amit Shah is guilty or not, but am pretty sure that Congress is misusing CBI to the core. I wonder if an impartial CBI would have overnight withdrawn the cases against Quatrochi, revoked his Red Corner notice from Interpol and unfrozen his Bank accounts. Mayawati and Lalu's cases suddenly take back seat when the Congress needs their support in Parliament. So much of an "Impartial Agency" of our country.
CBI is being used properly or not. The question is CBI used in Congress ruled states in the similar condition or not. It is not BJP or Congress demoralized.
CBI under the Congress party's supervision is trying its best to pick on BJP and Narendra Modi's government in Gujarat. This is very clear why CBI is concentrating all its energies in Amit Shah case. One the Sohrabuddin was a muslim even though a criminal, and congress does not care for political benefits it can glorify Sohrabuddin like criminal, not hang Afzal Guru, go slow on Kasab, PM can say first right to muslims on India's resources, coin term 'hindu terror' and supress Islamic terror by saying terror has no religion. All this shown congress party's hypocracy and it is well promoted by our English media for gains.
So, the congress in gujarat and in the centre accepts that narendra modi is doing a good job. otherwise they wont be struggling so much all these years to unseat a BJP CM despite misusing all its powers.
Your's and congress's expectation of this episode to fetch minority votes might turn out to be a wishful thinking. This is because muslims in gujarat have overwhelmingly voted for Naren Modi for appreciation of his sicnreity, honesty and developmental work and not in any narrow way as you lot expected. This alleged encounter was against an extortionist and religion has not got anything to do with this. In fact the other guy who has allegedly been shot is an hindu and not a muslim. Also a muslim police officer has been involved in this as well. (according to prosecution ). How is it possible that this action was against muslims?
The bogey that narendra Modi is a "strongman" and could not be dislodged in Gujarat is a myth!the ultimate voters are the real strength behind. But how long they could be taken on a ride.
For instance, he asks:"Why am I prevented from fighting terrorism"?In 2007 in reply to Supreme Court notice in RE Worabudeen case, Gujarat Govt. has filed an affidavi that the encounter was a fake on! Vanzara and Pandiyan , senior police officers involed were jailed. How now he could say that he was fighting "terrorism"?Why cses were taken out of Gujarat?
Does the ordinary citizen not in a position to know them ?
The Congress is going too far and is taking far too great a risk in gambling its all for the sake of tormenting Mr.Modi. This uncalled for brinkmanship has now become counterproductive and will, in not too distant a future come back to gravely haunt the Congress, it's sovereign family and their blindly loyal henchmen, including the CBI which is on the verge of a major and cruel overhaul, more than the Police, bureaucracy and the corrupt politician.
There may be a delay in the House of God but Judgment Day cannot be far behind for the now blatantly anti-nationalist ruling party.
It is indeed very sad that every action against bigwigs in politics is viewed through the prism of electoral gains/losses. The whole country - including the media - is obsessed with highlighting the cast creed and community of every individual - they did not even spare the president, vice president or the CEC - Dr Kalam, Dr Ansari or Mr Quereshi. These eminent personalities have achieved their greatness by sincerety, hardwork and setting examole for others as 'True Indians'.
It is a pity that their achievements are not applauded as much as they being from the minority population. Come on, please!!. Let us think and do actions as Indians, if we honestly desire India to become the greatest country in the world.
with media houses like the hindu, ndtv, outlook which work for the congress it gives the congress another front to attack BJP and Modi day in and day out. The media houses has to remember one thing Modi is the perfect example of "the survivor". Inspite of all you media houses trying your best to malign him in the last elections he came out triumphant and became even bigger than what he was before. I pray that he emerges out of this media and congress made crisis even stronger and reach higher heights in his political career. Modi is the only perfroming CM of India a man who had delivered what the people expect a CM of a state to deliver.
what is more pathetic is that people take the attitude of the congress to be the thing that shapes destiny.If some muslim voters are misled by congress why cannot soem hindu voters not neutralise that by voting with the BJP...it is not an act against any community in the same way as amy muslim voting for the congress is an act against any community. There is no real problem
The Britishers made a fatal mistake of jailing Gandhiji after Champaran and made him a National Hero. The people are perceiving Narendra Modi as a clean Nationalist. Using CBI to corner him, for fighting against terrorists and extortionist will back fire. Congress is already hated in Gujarat and this will bankrupt Congress in Gujarat and possibly, rest of the country. Gujarat has led the Nation in many things and the wanton use of CBI to achieve a goal that could not be achieved at the Ballot Boxes, may boomrang. Congress is playing with fir!
Hey, what about the perpetrators of the Sikh riots in which over more than 3000 Sikhs were butchered? How many Congess guys have been hanged for butchering members of a patriotic community? Do you recall what the then "secular" PM Rajiv Gandhi say? "When a tree falls the earth shakes". How about a CBI investigation into the butchr of sikhs?
From the flipflop on CBI cases against Mayawati,Mulayam,Madhu Koda & others it is evident that the CBI & as well as the legal system itself are subservient to the ruling party in the centre & is used to meet their political interests.
I am not supporting any political party. But one thing I will tell clearly that Mr. Modi is one of best CM we ever saw. Afraid of his popularity, congress is purposely trying to diminish his image. Hash ... we have no such CM in Kerala. We salute u Mr. Modi for your good governance.
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