Mohd Asim works at NDTV as News Editor.It was a big day for you,
Mr Modi. But it was a sad day - like numerous since that fateful February 28, 2002 - for Zakia Jafri. A clean chit will come in handy for you in poll season.
The rejection of Zakia Jafri's petition and acceptance of the SIT report that concluded that there was no prosecutable evidence against you will further fuel the enthusiasm of your fans. A clean chit from a court is certainly a big deal.
But this can be a truly historic opportunity, which, if used, could propel you into a league of leaders from the crowd of politicians that you currently are in.
Here's how.
If only Mr Modi, you can show the modesty to visit that octogenarian lady, the widow of a fellow senior politician from your own state and sit with her for two minutes.
You are staking claim for the top job in the country. Show some heart now.
Zakia Jafri doesn't deserve to run from pillar to post to get some sense of legal succour. She doesn't deserve any more court appearances and press conferences. Just hold her hand once in all earnest.
Tell her that you hold no malice towards her as she has been fighting a genuine battle all these years.
She, after all, lost her husband who was murdered in the most brutal manner right outside his house along with 68 others. It's impossible for her to come to terms with her loss. It's also not wrong of her to hold you responsible for the grave tragedy as the head of the state in those terrible times. Tell her that you feel her pain and apologise for not being able to prevent the horrible massacre. Promise her that you will see to it that the guilty will be punished and that no one will suffer her fate in the future.
"Sorry" can be both a hollow and a powerful word - depending on who says it and with what intent. You owe it to an old fellow Gujarati. I am sure she will forgive you and spend her last days in some peace.
The fact is there is no difference between what you did or did not do in 2002 and the chest-thumping secularists who ruled Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar and Delhi while they burned. There's blood on almost every hand.
Not many have had the courage to accept their wrongs in this country. But you claim to be different, Mr Modi. Show that.
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