(Captain GR Gopinath founded Air Deccan and is considered a pioneer in the low-cost airline sector. He joined Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party in January this year.)It is time for
Narendra Modi to accept that the time has come for him to rise above petty politics, howsoever tempting it may be to retaliate when provoked. According to most projections and predictions, he is likely to lead the BJP to victory in the coming elections and be the next Prime Minister of India.
In recent interviews, he has displayed many welcome signs of statesmanship - he has said if given the chance, he will be the prime minister for the whole country, both who vote for him and against him. He has said again and again, that for Indians there should be only one mantra - Development - and only one scripture - the Constitution. When asked, he has suggested there will be no witch-hunting of Priyanka or Sonia Gandhi or Robert Vadra, but he has also warned that no one is above the law and the institutional frame work must deal with Vadra or others justly. (
There will be no sparing, no witchhunt: Arun Jaitley on Robert Vadra)
Yesterday, he said "I will quit politics rather than allow dignity of martyrs be hurt". His remarks came after he used "
yeh dil maange more" to ask voters for more than 300 seats. That phrase- originally an advertising slogan - was used by Captain Vikram Batra in an interview to NDTV before he was killed in the line of duty in the Kargil War. Captain Batra's family accused Modi of exploiting a martyr's name and legacy. The 24-year-old braveheart's mother is running for Parliament from Himachal Pradesh as a candidate of the Aam Aadmi Party. Modi cannot cede to her demand of dropping his party's candidate against her. But his remark showed a degree of maturity and sensitivity. (
Will quit politics rather than hurt dignity of martyrs: Modi)He has also admonished some right-wing colleagues who made hate remarks. He suggested they are hurting him and the cause of BJP by making irresponsible hate speeches. Many felt his criticism was delayed and not strong enough. On Baba Ramdev, who is campaigning for the BJP and who made coarse remarks about Rahul Gandhi making house calls to Dalit homes for "a honeymoon and picnic," there has been no comment from Mr Modi. (
Ramdev apologises for 'honeymoon' remark against Rahul Gandhi)It is incumbent on Modi, being the Prime Minister-designate of his party, to take the initiative to demonstrate that he will be a decisive leader not only in ushering in growth and stability but also in disciplining the rabid and fringe elements that surround him and the BJP. It can not escape any one that economic growth can only be possible if there is peace and communal harmony.
For Modi, the challenge will lie in incorporating the agenda and the diktats of the RSS, which ensured that he was chosen as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate several months before the election and despite the opposition of top leaders like
LK Advani. The RSS will want its right-wing
mandir agenda referenced. Modi has been focusing on development and good economics. Balancing the two sides could be challenging. And there are those who worry that the RSS may become an extra constitutional authority just as the Gandhi family did in the case of Manmohan Singh.
The onus is on Modi then as the prime minister-in-waiting to show qualities of magnanimity and grace and win the confidence and respect, especially of minorities, whose anxiety and insecurity is palpable in the background of divisive forces in Congress and other parties whose eyes are only on their votes.
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