Intellectuals' concern over Narendra Modi becoming PM

NEW DELHI: A group of over 100 eminent citizens today expressed concern over the possibility of Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister, saying his "infamous role" in the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002 is being brushed aside to promote him as a "tough" leader.

Severely critical of Modi, they said people are being subjected to a media blitz to convince that Modi was the man the country needed now and warned about possibility of rising danger of bigotry and communal divide if he becomes PM.

"As India heads towards another general election soon we, the undersigned, would like to warn the people of India about the rising danger of bigotry, communal divide, organized violence on and hatred for sections of people in the country," they said in a statement released by noted Jnanpith award winner U R Ananthamurthy.

Poet Ashok Vajpeyi and Planning Commission member Sayeda Hameed were also present at the media interaction.

The intellectuals said the "corporate media campaign" has already "overawed" the BJP to surrender before the 'strongman of Gujarat'.

"Modi's infamous role in the massacre of Muslims in his state in 2002 is being brushed aside and he is promoted as morally 'fit enough' to lead the nation.

"False statistical claims, full of half truths, are being used to present Gujarat as a model that all of India should follow to attain high economic growth," it said.

The signatories include Madhu Prasad, Mihir Pandya, K Satchidanandan, S Irfan Habib, Sania Hashmi, Tanveer Akhtar, Neelam Mansingh, Raza Haider, Neelam Mansingh, Mrinalini Mukherjee, Mohsin Khan, Prabhat Patnaik, Nikhil Kumar, Ramesh Dixit, Geeta Kapur, K Ashok Rao, Javed Akhtar Khan, D N Jha, Anil Kumar Sinhaand Anuradha Kapur and M K Raina.