I'm from A'bad and had heard Achyut's name before, but this is the first time read him seriously....couldn't read the later half though, it all seemed wastage of time. The guy is ironic and funny. Doesn't go beyond Dalits and tribals, has all logics in store to support for Muslim reservation, and force Gandhian ways in general on Hindus etc. Rediff calls him a sane voice, which is yet another fun!
The very nature of the so-called secularists is that they will declare (or rather shamelessly brag) themselves to be the saviors of everything the democratic India. They seem to proclaim the inheritance of democratic means, secularism, non-violence etc and also the right to force their definitions on others.
They abused Modi and Gujaratis over the 2002 riots all along while the courts were examining cases at different levels. Modi brings in the Soharabudeen issues into his poll plank and they start crying hoarse and referring about its "sub-judice" nature. In short CHIT BHEE MEREE PAT BHEE MEREE! If the so-called secularists are not heard in Gujarat, they have to blame themselves, because no sane (and this one reference is sane indeed unlike rediff's above one) person would ever listen to their histrionics in the mode they are behaving right now. The downside of the whole matter: filth of Hindutva (and there is plenty of it indeed) will continue to be as it is in the absence of a rational minded opposition.
RE:I had heard Achyut's name...
by Pankaj Mohan on Dec 07, 2007 12:43 AM Permalink
lancer, it's difficult to say right now. The urban mass supports Modi in a big way. Even (Achyut's) the weaker sections do support Modi, cause the cities have seen the development. The hardship for Modi is in the rural areas where caste politics will play its role - the Keshubai and Patidar (Patel) factor, you know. Modi is forced to use Hindutva due to the same reason it seems, as his development plank is very fool proof, there is hardly anything that you can counter about his development agenda with authority. But, development seems to be taking a back seat as Sonia's vicious remarks (merchants of death) has started to come...difficult to say now lancer!
RE:I had heard Achyut's name...
by Pankaj Mohan on Dec 07, 2007 12:55 AM Permalink
Sure, no doubt about it! But it also shows how difficult it's to fight out against the Congress and the casteist forces without resorting to emotional issues. The truly development oriented polity is almost impossible as long as a vote-bank savvy Congress stays around.
