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Spin doctors need to stop normalising Yogi Adityanath

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Sanghamitra Baruah
Sanghamitra BaruahMar 23, 2017 | 18:33

Spin doctors need to stop normalising Yogi Adityanath

Just like you never know what to expect from a Bollywood movie with a U/A certification by the CBFC, the BJP too has left its spectators confused after giving a Vikas/Hindutva stamp (read Yogi Adityanath) to its brand of politics in Uttar Pradesh.

And now that the great tamasha has opened to packed theatres, there is little that the audience can do but sit through the show.

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The torture would still have been easier to bear had the right-wing sycophants and BJP spin doctors in the media not jumped into painting a picture of the Uttar Pradesh CM as the next vikas purush — someone who has nothing against Muslims (except that he wants them out of Uttar Pradesh and the country) and is, in fact, all about work and no foul play.

Really?

As soon as the Hindu hardliner was anointed the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, a section of the media, which first eulogised Narendra Modi's development agenda in Uttar Pradesh, are now busy allaying people's fears by painting Adityanath as a saint. Yes, in our country any honorific before your name and a wardrobe change in favour of one particular shade will make you an ascetic, a monk and a vikas purush.

Spin doctors in the media have already gone into great lengths to highlight the Yogi's virtues — an animal lover with an austere lifestyle, dedicated only towards development, or how he enjoys a special bond with Muslim volunteers working at the cow shelter in Gorakhnath temple, or how the Muslims are all praise for the mascot of Hindutva hardline.

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There is no dearth of headlines screaming about Yogi's "secular credentials" all of a sudden because of which "Muslims are celebrating his ascension to the top job in Uttar Pradesh".

yogi-body_032317060226.jpg
The spin doctors forget that in painting a completely different picture of the yogi, they are trying to kill the core values for which the man stood all these years. (Credit: Reuters)

But the spin doctors forget that in painting a completely different picture of the yogi, they are trying to kill the core values for which the man stood all these years. Going by their attempts to whitewash his divisive image, are we supposed to believe that the man "says one thing but does another"?

Because believing their stories would also mean that you can't trust Adityanath or his "development" promises made to the people (after becoming the CM). After all, a speech is just a matter of speech!

So, can we completely ignore his upfront anti-Muslim sentiments and vitriolic hate speeches and normalise him saying he is not a religious bigot in real life, but just in his speeches?

Not really. Sample this:

"If one Hindu girl is converted, we will convert 100 Muslim girls."

“Lord Shankar was the biggest Yogi who started Yoga. Mahadev lives in every particle of this country. So those who want to avoid Yoga and Lord Shankar can leave Hindustan.

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"If any organisation refuses to chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ or sing Vande Mataram, like we smashed the Babri Masjid, we will smash it.” 

“Mother Teresa was part of the conspiracy to Christianise India. Hindus were converted in the name of doing service and then converted."

"Hinduism is a different culture. Islam is a different culture. They can’t coexist. Two cultures cannot coexist. It will cause friction. There definitely will be."

A man who has been blatantly preaching nothing but hatred and communal disharmony can only fool the Modi bhakts, blind practitioners of hate crime, and the newly acquired sophisticated cabal of right-wing sycophants flooding media houses.

Before becoming the CM, Adityanath was at least honest about his feelings and the kind of human being he is. Post his elevation, he is being forced to cover his bigotry with "sabka saath, sabka vikas" chants.

At least give the man his due. He has campaigned and won all past elections based on his divisive politics, why sacrifice his core beliefs now? They did the same to Narendra Modi, who suddenly transformed into the (original) vikas purush from a chief minister known for the carnage of Muslims by Hindutva followers in the state during his tenure.

India is known for its rich mythology, and Indians for their ability to create urban legends. It's such a shame! 

Last updated: March 23, 2017 | 18:33
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