Shiv Sena warns BJP against deifying Modi

After reports that the BJP-led government wants to showcase Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s achievements with propaganda films in cinema halls, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday warned the BJP against its attempt to deify Mr Modi and said it was such actions by ‘bhakts’ that get their ‘God’ into trouble.

Referring to his Cabinet colleagues’ description of Mr Modi as ‘God’s gift to India’ and reports that propaganda films showcasing Mr Modi’s achievements as a leader would be made mandatory viewing in cinema halls, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamna said, “Senior BJP leaders are making statements that the Prime Minister is an ‘avatar’. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s supporters in the State also put her on a pedestal. Their supporters tend to sing peans to those in power. When you deify someone, there is bound to be a temple and festivals in the God’s name … A Ram temple may not be constructed in Ayodhya but it appears chanting of ‘slokas’ in the name of this new God could be made mandatory.”

Referring to the compulsion of chanting ‘Indira ki Jai’ during the Emergency, the editorial pointed out how former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s supporters deified her with slogans like ‘Indira is India’, and Narayan Dutt Tiwari once publicly said,

“Na Main Nar, Na Main Nari, Main Toh Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Indiraji Ka Pujari.” The editorial said though the then Congress government used government machinery and media to propagate the Indira cult, Ms Gandhi suffered a crushing defeat post-Emergency.

“More than the BJP, we are concerned about the Prime Minister. It is the bhakts [devotees] that eventually get politicians and Gods into trouble. We have witnessed this from the Mahabharata to the present-day politics in Delhi. If the films on Mr Modi’s achievements are going to be screened in cinema halls, will it also include the Pathankot attacks? Naxals and terrorists in the Kashmir valley are killing our soldiers. The CJI wept before our Prime Minister. Should we take that as success or failure?”

Stating that poll promises of curbing inflation and corruption, and bringing back black money had remained unfulfilled, the editorial said, “The Prime Minister’s work and leadership is strong, and he certainly has the potential to change the face of the country. But is this an opportune time to show films on Mr Modi’s achievements? We hope that it does not boomerang like ‘India Shining’ campaign. It would be more appropriate if such things were showcased in the fifth year of the government or it may give an opportunity to the opposition to criticise the government.”