The Gita - Modi Untouchable, Let's Get Yeddy!

Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who headed the Manhattan Project that created the Atomic Bomb, kept the Bhagwad Gita by his side throughout the project. On being asked if this was the first ever atomic explosion he had replied “Yes, in modern times”. His response was interpreted to suggest that such a test may have been already carried out in Vedic times. Following the test he remarked later that he was reminded of Krishna’s words to Arjun to take up the just war: “Now I am become death, the destroyer of the worlds”. In a figurative sense the secularists will use that line against Hindus themselves. And they have willing partners too. You don’t need to do a google search to find the identity of these ‘useful idiots’. They are all around you.

Not surprisingly, many early westerners who trashed Hindu culture eventually embraced the profound spirit and wisdom that the Bhagwad Gita enshrines. Even modern day scientists, like the late astronomer Carl Sagan, have found inspiration, truth and scientific accuracy in the Vedas. Philosophers through the centuries relied on the Gita for inspiration and solace. It is only in modern day India that those who call themselves ‘secular’ find a volcano of joy in trashing Hinduism and dragging this spiritual guide into an avoidable cacophony of controversies. Yes, I am referring to the Karnataka (non)controversy of teaching Gita in schools.

Who else to lead the brigade against the Karnataka government but NDTV, with its secular cheerleader Barkha Dutt? She, who has come to unwittingly represent the worst of Indian news media. Creating a controversy where there was none. All this because some minister’s statements which supported teaching of the Gita in schools. Before you could say ‘Allah’ there were reports all over that a circular has been issued by the Karnataka government to mandate teaching of the Gita in schools. I am yet to see the actual circular or the actual text of it. Christians and Muslims in the public responded with righteous anger but why should the news media fuel the nonsense? Well, don’t be misled by the media’s Gita delusions. The blog Offstumped has pretty much chronicled it neatly and I don’t find the need to repeat. It would be fair to say that in the current context of Indian politics and media ‘Secularism’ means and must involve Hinduism-bashing. It is not an untruth to state that Christianity, Islam, Judaism are foreign religions. India has absorbed these as her own and we should be proud of our culture of absorbing other religions and cultures. But this is not about religion or about the Bhagwad Gita.

The plan is much bigger than that. It’s a secular strategy.

For almost a decade the Congress and other ‘secular’ parties along with media channels like NDTV, CNN-IBN, Star News and many more have tried to demonise Narendra Modi. To destroy him politically. To join this gang of secular brigade there were those from the Scotch circuit and so-called humanitarians and activists. You will lately find some of these humanitarians on the invite list of Ghulam Nabi Fai. They called him a mass murderer, threw fictitious affidavits at him, produced false stories and even outright lies. Didn’t work! They called him fascist, compared him to Hitler, tarnished those who associated with him. Didn’t work! Anyone praising Modi was a lamb ready for slaughter. Remember Amitabh Bachchan? Remember Ghulam Vastanvi? Remember Anna Hazare? Watch out, soon Narayana Murthy who has accepted an assignment in Gujarat will be consigned to the trash bin. Murthy’s career which has been praised and has been an inspiration to many will now be peppered with controversies, accusations of corruption, nepotism and a lot more. The secular dirty tricks department will be activated to throw mud at Murthy. He better watch out. But none in the ‘secular’ spectrum, not even gutter-mouth Digvijay Singh has been able to bring down Narendra Modi. He has simply proved to be untouchable!

So, what do we do now? Ever since the unmasking of Digvijay Singh by a saffron-clad Uma Bharati he has gone colour-blind. He has tried every trick to tarnish the RSS, BJP and through that Hindus themselves. The Congress, Sonia Gandhi, the media collectively failed to poison the minds of Gujaratis against Narendra Modi. NaMo could not be accused of corruption, of nepotism or of non-performance. In contrast, B.S. Yedyurappa, CM of Karnataka presents a much easier target. From the governor Bharadwaj to the Congress to the media there has been a consistent and concerted orchestration of mud-slinging and skulduggery. CNN-IBN has already accused him of corruption in the mining scandal when the Lokayukta has simply asked the CM should be probed for involvement in mining contracts. In contrast you won’t find much noise about Shiela Dikshit’s indictment by the Delhi Lokayukta. Previously the JD (Secular) and Congress connived to bring down the BJP led government in Karnataka. To their utter shock and dismay the people voted the BJP back to power with a clear majority.

Unlike Modi, Yedyurappa has a large family and the temptation to dish out favours will always exist. And, yes, he must be probed and if corruption is established he must be removed. But the manner in which he and his government or ministers are being loudly discussed on TV channels indicate only one thing. He is a safer and easier target when compared to Narendra Modi. And the other threat is that the BJP is increasingly becoming popular in Karnataka if one were to go by the results of the last few by-elections. For the secular brigade that is the serious threat that must be averted at any cost. Even if it takes dragging the Bhagwad Gita into it.

If all that is not enough, target some Hindu activists and leaders in terror cases and equate them with Al-Qaeeda and LeT. Drag the Shakaracharya and file murder cases against him. Enter temples with impunity. Attempt to seize the wealth of temples. You go figure.

To a smaller extent the media has already started raising volumes over the BJP CM of Uttarakhand on mining scandals. But Karnataka is always a bigger catch and therefore higher the temptation to bring down the BJP government there. The Gita controversy should be viewed in the light of that effort and not as a religion issue. Imagine the kind of gains the secular brigade would make if Muslims and Christians are told about the threat that their religion is in danger under a BJP government. And the ever willing NDTV is always there to expand the discourse on the threat to minorities. Tempting, isn’t it? The JD(S), the Congress and the media have only stopped short of saying “Islam is under threat” or “Christianity is under threat”! But make no mistake, that is exactly what they wish to imply.

They aren’t done yet. The job is to manufacture hate and outrage against BJP governments. It’s not finished yet. Await more mud-slinging. Yes, Narendra Modi has proved to be untouchable. Let’s get Yeddy!