Arun Shourie: How Mr Modi is turning India into a Pakistan

Former Union minister and ex BJP member Arun Shourie has criticised the Narendra Modi government in no uncertain terms. Taking on the prime minister, the BJP national president Amit Shah, as well as cabinet ministers like Arun Jaitley and junior ministers like Mahesh Sharma, Shourie said the PM has not behaved like a statesman and has put India’s future at stake in order to win a mere Assembly election (in Bihar).

Here are five salvos from Shourie which are likely to hit the Modi government where it hurts the most.

On rising intolerance

It's certainly the fact.  These things are occurring one after the other pervasively across the country. As these people rightly apprehend, there's no response from the government. So, it is right to be worried.

There is encouragement. The basic reason is weakening of the Indian state in general. Not the state government, but the Indian state. Any posse of bullies anywhere can get at anybody at any time and do anything to him, and no perpetrator is ever brought to book. Therefore, they feel more and more encouraged. This happening in such an atmosphere - every little social service organisation and political parties start gathering strong armed men to their own cadre, so that they can deploy them whenever they like. Not just in elections. 

On beef controversy

This beef business - in the election speeches of Modi himself, there's all the talk about Pink Revolution. So, they feel encouraged. Then an atmosphere is created. Not just by fringe elements, but MPs, his own ministers, so called 'bhaktas' on social media. He invited those very bhaktas to his house and held a reception for them. Two of my journalist friends told me that when they saw a man who used the vilest of abuse on social media - now, why will they not feel encouraged?

An incident occurs or is created, then it kept alive by statements every second day. Three, four weeks. People say why is Mr Modi not speaking. In the end he says something delphic - Motherhood is good.

On Mahesh Sharma

If you see Mahesh Sharma is the minister for culture. What he says, even about Kalam. Then you give that very man Dr Kalam's house. The house in which Dr Kalam stayed.  Don't you think others will not feel encouraged that that is the way to be rewarded? It's like spitting in the face of the people. There's a phrase - me ne frego - I don't give a damn.  That was Mussolini's motto for his black shirts.  I am not saying Modi's attitude is similar, but it's an inference that it is an attitude that will lead to the same consequences as. Please don't think I am comparing Modi to Mussolini, not at all. This Mahesh Sharma thing is really symbolic.

On intellectuals’ protest 

It is the Gandhian thing to do.  I will put your 400 figure into perspective. In 1921, in the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Congress led by Gandhiji appealed to the people - Those who hold titles should return them. I looked up the figures. In August 1921, 5,186 persons who had titles. Do you think how many returned them? 24. Here there's no Gandhi, and yet, as you say 400 people have felt compelled to state their protest and warning in public.

In fact, these chaps are troubled by the intellectuals for the opposite reason. A true writer, a scientist true to his calling, he wants nothing from them. They cannot bribe him, most of them they cannot frighten, that is why these intellectuals are not in the control of these fellows. That is what really troubles them. They never find these motives till these intellectuals have spoken against them. Then suddenly... [they delve on his past]. Why didn't you discover his character before he spoke?

On turning India into Pakistan

Narendra Modi has failed to fulfil his moral responsibility and in breach of oath of office, he is turning India into Pakistan because winning Bihar matters more than India's future. Recent campaigns by Modi have diminished his image. The language that Modi uses during his rallies in Bihar does not suit a befitting prime minister.

On PM being a victim of intolerance

Designating Modi as a victim of intolerance is the most dangerous thing to do because it will give him grounds to be vengeful.

Tum se pehle woh jo ek shakhs yahan takht-nasheen tha 

Uss ko bhi apne khuda hone pe itna hi yaqeen tha

[Even before you there was a throne-hungry ruler 

Who also equally believed that he was God.]

-- Shourie quotes Pakistani Urdu poet Habib Jalib 

Watch the full interview here.