The Prime Minister’s comment at a speech in Thiruvananthapuram — that Kerala’s Scheduled Tribes suffer from a higher infant mortality than the population of Somalia — has backfired (“Twitterati use Mohanlal line to troll Modi”, May 12).
Going by the anger on social media, the inane remark has done enormous damage to the cause of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the State. Though the Left may be in a state of decline in Kerala, the State’s pre-eminent position on social indicators of development is because of the efforts of the Left parties. States like Gujarat that are being cited by the Prime Minister as worthy of emulation lag behind in the social progress index. This reflects badly on their growth models that are powered by crony capitalism.
Manohar Alembath,
Kannur
It is unfortunate that everyone from Kerala’s Chief Minister to the State’s citizens is attempting to malign the Prime Minister on the grounds of one inadvertent comment.
Mr. Modi made the remark only in the context of the sorry state of affairs among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Kerala. If those who are criticising him visit places like Attappady, they will see the miserable conditions in which people live. People in these areas draw water from ponds, live in leaky huts, often eat roots to subsist, and have no roads or electricity. This is what Mr. Modi was referring to.
It is ironical that people are now referring to a ‘Kerala model of development’. Precious print space is being wasted on this issue. This is a classic case of much ado about nothing.
K.P. Prabhakaran Nair,
Kozhikode, Kerala
If the Prime Minister expresses regret over his remark, it would help his party get more acceptance in Kerala. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is important to realise these mistakes and correct them. It would make the Prime Minister more respectable. Silence can often be harmful. In this case, it most certainly will be to those BJP candidates who have a chance of getting elected.
N.R.U.K. Kartha,
Thiruvananthapuram
Mr. Modi has unnecessarily waded into a huge controversy with this odious comparison. To add to the discomfort, he has made no attempt to clarify his remarks. The unpleasant task of doing this has been left to the party’s election managers in Kerala. This unwanted statement, especially at a time when the BJP seems to be at its lowest ebb since coming to power in 2014, is going to cost the party in the State.
J.S. Acharya,
Hyderabad
Mr. Modi’s comparison of Kerala to Somalia is not only an insult to the State but also an abdication of his own government’s responsibility. For any handicap of any State, the Central government is also responsible. Also, Kerala is better than Gujarat in many respects such as poverty.
K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha, Kerala
The statement is very unbecoming of a Prime Minister. This shows to what level politics in India has been reduced. We often harp on the fact that the office of the Prime Minister should be above politics. But seeing some recent trends, this expectation seems to have been swept under the carpet.
Javaid Sultan,
Ganderbal, J&K
