Narendra Modi begins 3-day fast, plays good governance card

Ahmedabad: Narendra Modi is 61 today. He began the day by touching his mother's feet in a televised moment, tweeted his whereabouts, seeking support for his sadbhavna (amity) mission and reached the Gujarat university exhibition hall exactly on time for his three-day fast for communal harmony. Birthday celebrations had begun. (See Pics)

Not a celebration, the Gujarat chief minister was quick to say. "This is the only day when I don't answer the phone, don't meet anyone. I never celebrate. The question of celebrating does not arise today." (Watch Modi's full speech)

But there were birthday wishes from six km away. Congress veteran and Modi's one-time RSS colleague Shankarsinh Vaghela is fasting too - in protest against Mr Modi's fast. Mr Vaghela, surrounded by Congressmen all in Gandhi caps, began his fast at the Gandhi Ashram an hour before Mr Modi's. He will end two hours after Mr Modi does and has sent across a message - "I wish Mr Modi happy birthday and hope he will get sadbuddhi (better sense)."

"Have you ever heard of a person sitting in an air conditioned room on a fast? He is using the taxpayer's money for sitting on a fast. If there would be a murder here, there would be no cop to report it because all policemen are at the fast venue. We will make sure that Modi accounts for all the money spent on the fast...Why does he need to gather a crowd...is it some kind of election campaign? Leaders across the country have come here. Is this a fast or a festival?" questioned Mr Vaghela. (No need for Modi to do such a 'tamasha': Vaghela)

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Mr Vaghela's less spectacular counter-show is unlikely to dent Mr Modi's enthusiasm. There is a definite air of celebration in the packed hall where thousands of supporters, top BJP leaders, including LK Advani, and political allies have gathered to support Mr Modi's fast and sadbhavna mission. There was the ceremonial tying of a turban and lighting of lamp, the chanting of mantras. And Modi, the man of the moment, straight to the point.  The world, he said, was talking about the development of Gujarat, a state that lifted itself quickly from the twin setbacks of earthquake and riots 10 years ago. "Everyone thought Gujarat will never be able to bounce back, Gujarat is finished. They said no one will invest in Gujarat...A World Bank report says that if the most developed countries go through so much, it takes them seven years to stand again. It took Gujarat only three years."

Mr Modi in his praise of Gujarat, took a bow. "People kept attacking us, we never hit back. So many accusations, defamation, we have never hit back, always tolerated everything. Waited for the truth to come out. Kept collecting the stones that were thrown at us and we made stairs out of those stones and got Gujarat kept rising." (Read Highlights of Modi's speech)

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And crucially, in keeping with the very overt image makeover that the Gujarat Chief Minister is attempting in his bid for wider political acceptance, Mr Modi stressed on inclusive politics. The hurt of six crore Gujaratis was his, he said; he worked for all of them, he said; and he promised that his amity mission would "end vote bank politics".

Having set the tone for the Gujarat Shining theme, Mr Modi got a thumbs up from LK Advani, who said the sadbhavna mission was aimed at getting rid of misconceptions. Mr Advani hailed Mr Modi for Gujarat's development. And from BJP colleague Arun Jaitley, who said told NDTV in an exclusive interview, "Narendra Modi has concentrated on development without discrimination."  (Watch)
 
Before the grand show began, the Gujarat Chief Minister met his mother Narmada Bai for birthday blessings. Dressed in a blue kurta, Modi touched his mother's feet, she gave him a book and they spent some moments with her sitting on a traditional swing. (Watch: Ahead of fast, Modi seeks mother's blessings)
 
Then he tweeted, "On my way to the venue of fast for #Sadbhavana Mission. Join the Prayer for Togetherness, in person or online."

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The last week has been defining for the Gujarat Chief Minister. The Supreme Court transferred a Gujarat-riots-related case to a lower court in the state and  Narendra Modi tweeted, "God is Great". Suddenly, from a US think tank to BJP patriarch LK Advani, there was talk about Narendra Modi, possible future Prime Minister. (Read: Narendra Modi tweets 'God is great'; Supreme Court won't monitor Gulbarg Society case)

A canny Modi has quickly seized upon the opportunity to market Brand Modi. Gujarat and Modi shining is the message and the tone has changed to a softer, almost apologetic one as the Chief Minister wrote two open letters to the people of his state. The second, written a day before he turned 61, said, "I am grateful to all who pointed out my genuine mistakes during last 10 years...Gujarat has overcome the evil of communalism...The Pain of each citizen is my own pain." (Read: Grateful to those who pointed out mistakes: Modi)

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Modi's birthday fast is anything but austere. The state machinery was out in frenetic preparation for the last week - the airconditioned university hall rents at Rs 5 lakh a day, there is tight security, 6000 chairs for those who will watch Mr Modi fast on a very large stage over the next three days. There is overt political support that Modi shall wear on his sleeve - from within the party as other top leaders, Advani, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj share his call, settling the issue of the BJP's firm backing. "I will be in Ahmedabad on 19th September for the Sadbhavana Upvas of Narendrabhai Modi," tweeted Ms Swaraj.

Support also extends from allies that have thrown their weight behind Mr Modi. Nitish Kumar of the JD(U), not known to love Mr Modi, may not be in Ahmedabad to wish him a Happy Birthday, but Parkash Singh Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders is there. And J Jayalalithaa has sent two senior AIADMK leaders though she emphatically said it was a goodwill gesture not a political move. But the participation of these parties is being showcased as Mr Modi's wider political acceptance.

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Gujarat BJP spokesman Vijay Rupani says, "Narendra Modi's image as a popular leader is getting further impetus. The entire country knew about his capabilities, now the world is getting aware."

That image makeover is important for Modi. One that has been in the making over the past few years. As the man of the moment he now figures on the latest edition of Society magazine, talking politics and poetry. (Read: Modi on politics, poetry & Rahul as PM)The international media has quickly taken note. (Read: Modi's new avatar makes Society magazine cover)

As he begins his fast today, Mr Modi will attempt to obliterate the one serious blemish of his political career - the 2002 Gujarat Riots. To do this he is expected to link two isolated events - escaping the Supreme Court's indictment in the Zakia Jafri Gujarat riots case and the US Congressional panel report that talks of him as a future prime ministerial candidate.

Not so fast, says the Congress. The party's spokesperson in Gujarat, Hemanshi Vyas insists, "His (Modi's) road to Delhi is still quite far." And Congress leader Mr Vaghela is attempting to ensure that the road is arduous. Mr Vaghela says the motive of his counter-fast at the Gandhi Ashram is to present the other side of the Modi story. Mr Modi's fast, he says, is propaganda and that he would like to spread the message that the Supreme Court has not given the Chief Minister a clean chit.   

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