HITLERISM AT INDIA'S DOOR STEP.

                                                                                              
                                                                               JOY PAUL PUTHUSSERY

              When I write this, BJP National Executive meeting has commenced in Panaji, Goa and this conclave is expected to crown Narendra Modi as the face of BJP in the 2014 General Election and probable Prime Ministerial candidate. Though deep schism has developed in the BJP leadership and its patriarch Lal Krishna Advani and his followers are boycotting the conclave, Narendra Modi is likely to be installed as the chairman of the National Election Campaign Committee to lead the party in 2014 General Election and to be projected as the Prime Ministerial candidate.

             Like large sections of the Indian electorate, I have my own fears and forebodings about Modi. I firmly believe that he will be a danger to the multi-religious, multi-sub-cultural, multi-linguistic plural India. He is a man for conformity even if it is forced conformity like any fascist for whom diversity is anathema. The blood bath after Godhra is still fresh in my memory. To punish the culprits of Godhra is not the massacre of thousands of innocent people including women and children. They should have been brought before law and punished. My firm belief is Modi could have controlled and limited the intensity and massiveness of the carnage, if not prevent it altogether.

             Friends,  I wrote the above words two days ago and I was not able to continue since busy otherwise for the last two days. I was away at Kottayam to address a seminar on “Caste Politics and Kerala Society” and returned to Thrissur yesterday night. On my return I received the expected news of appointment of Modi as the Chairman of the National Election Campaign Committee of BJP and by implication the Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014 national election. The fate of L.K.Advani is surprising to even persons like me ideologically opposed to him and I am really shocked by the insult, ingratitude and shoddy treatment meted out by those groomed by him to this elder politician, who usually is described as BJP Patriarch  who built up the party from the scratches. From a tally of 2 seats in Lok Sabha he lead it to become the ruling party of India. In protest against electing Modi to the top slot he boycotted the National Executive of BJP at Goa.

            After Gujarat carnage in 2002 in the National Executive held paradoxically in Goa itself majority of its members including Prime Minister A.B. Vajapai wanted Modi to be replaced as Chief Minsiter of Gujarat. It was the strong backing and formidable support given by the ‘Iron Man’ Advani that saved the day for Modi. Otherwise it would have been the end of Modi story that day. It is tragic that in the National Executive in same Goa Modi made his unkindest cut of all against his mentor and saviour. The story of Mayaben Kodnani, former minister in Gujarat under Modi who has been convicted for Naroda Patiya massacre by a special court for 28 years imprisonment, proves that Modi is so power hungry that he will sacrifice anybody even his own colleagues for achieving his ambition. Since he wanted to exhibit his newly proclaimed secular credentials to make his way easier to be the PM’s throne, he wanted to dump Mayaben Kodnani  by moving higher courts to convert Kodnani’s 28 year imprisonment to capital punishment. I am sure it was not without Modi’s knowledge that Mrs. Kodnani incited people for Narodia Patiya massacre. This is Modi. This power hungry man will do anything to realize his ambition, even if by disowning his parents. No wonder he has thrown away Advani, his mentor and savior, to the wolves.

               I had spent a lot of time in my life to study the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler, the fuehrer and messiah of Nazi Party. From what I have read and learnt I am surprised by the striking similarities between Hitler’s and Modi’s style of functioning. Deep inside both are authoritarian and hated dissent and difference.  The political situation of 1933 Germany and 2013 India is strikingly similar, a weak and spineless government in power at the Centre with rampant corruption and inefficiency.

               Many even don’t know that Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany through a democratic election. In the German national election conducted on March 5, 1933 the Nazi party won only 288 seats, 36 seats short for an absolute majority. He made a coalition with Nationalist Party and its 52 MPs gave Hitler his required majority. German people never knew this would be the last election they would vote for many years to come. The rest is history. He declared emergency immediately after taking over as the Chancellor and even his coalition party leaders were arrested and jailed.  His closest colleague and second in command who helped in building the Nazi Party and organising the army of storm troopers called Brown Shirts, Ernst Roehm was put under bars soon in 1934. Hitler himself arrested him and put in prison. While in jail Hitler himself  gave him a pistol with the option either to shoot himself and commit suicide or be shot by the Guards. Rohem took the former course to redeem his courage and honour.

            Today Modi’s promoters are the Indian corporate houses just like Hitler’s were the German Corporates . At that time Hitler’s political and financial support came from industrialists like Krupp Von Bohlen of Krupp Works, Emil Kirdorff, the mining baron, Fritz Thyssen, the head of the Steel Trust, Albert Voegler of United Steel Works, Georg von Schnitzler of I.G.Farben and so on. I can continue quoting a score or more of names of German Industrialists who supported and financed Hitler. The same is the case now in India. Modi is the darling of Indian Corporates and the corporate owned media. They  project Modi as the messiah to save India from all evils with their selfish motives. If another Nuremberg model trial happens in India in the future, such industrialists surely will have to answer before it.

            I feel sorry and shocked by the abusive and vituperative comments against Advani by hordes of Modi storm troopers in the social media. Respecting elders is the part of Indian culture and those social media hooligans don’t know the cultural ethos of India. The intolerance of  fascist Modi and his brigade of storm troopers is a pointer to the future.

          Friends, don’t think I am spreading fears without any basis or creating unnecessary panic.  We have to learn from history and many a time history repeats itself sometimes more tragically than before. My friends who are admirers of Modi try to reassure me, but I am not reassured at all. The Germans in 1933 never thought that such ghastly events will happen in their country and were in a complacent mood, but had to pay the price with their and others’ blood. I have a premonition that Hitlerism is at the door step of India. My request to you is to think 100 times before you throw your weight behind Modi. I will never ever believe this man. As long as I can move my tongue, I will speak against him, as long as I can move my hand, I will write against him.

REMOVE SECTION 66A OF IT ACT

On 23^rd December 2008, the last day of winter session of the 14^th Lok Sabha, a draconian law was passed in 7 minutes time without any discussion and this law, passed without proper deliberation,  was the amended Information Technology Act 2000. This act included its section 66 A under which many persons have been arrested for expressing their free opinion in the social media on many political and social matters. No member of Parliament either left or right raised any objection to this Act when it was passed in Parliament. That proves that all the politicians whether of ruling parties or opposition parties saw eye to eye in the case of this Black Law. The classical proof of the harshness of this Act was proved when two girls were arrested in Mumbai for expressing their opposition to giving a day’s holiday in connection with the demise of Siva Sena leader Bal Thackeray. The girls were arrested by the police giving rise to widespread protest in India. Recently an social activist in Andhra was also arrested based on the same section of the IT Act.

The paradox is that for the same offence only a civil case is charged against the print media where as in the case of an offence in the social media immediate arrest and criminal prosecution are resorted to. This is wanton violation of right for freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed under Article 19(1a) of the Indian Constitution.

Our politicians know that print and visual media are amenable to government diktats due to patronage in the form of advertisement etc. Also our print and visual media are owned by big corporate houses which can be influenced by powers that be by government bonanza in the form of incentives and tax exemption.

I request all of you to come together and oppose Section 66 A of the IT Act and compel the government to withdraw it.

How true. And we keep feeding him. Nani Palkhiwala eminent Lawyer wrote on 16 January 1984. "The picture that emerges is that of a great country in a state of moral decay. The immediate future seems to belong to the doomsayers rather than to cheer mongers. We suffer from a fatty degeneration of conscience, and the malady seems to be not only persistent but prone to aggravation. The life style of too many politicians and businessmen bears eloquent testimony to the truth of dictum that the single minded pursuit of money impoverishes the mind, shrivels the imagination and desiccates the heart. The tricolour fluttering all over the country is black, red and scarlet - black money, red tape and scarlet corruption." My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.  He has his food prepared for him. He can eat whenever he wants, 24/7/365. His meals are provided at no cost to him. By the way he does not need to pay for medical insurance He visits the doctor once a year for his checkup, and again during the year if any medical needs arise. For this he pays nothing, and nothing is required of him. He lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than he needs, but he is not required to do any upkeep. If he makes a mess, someone else cleans it up. He has his choice of luxurious places to sleep. He receives these accommodations absolutely free.  He is living like a King, and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever. All of his costs are picked up by others who go out and earn a living every day. I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a brick in the head... My dog is like the Indian POLITICIAN