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| India-Pakistan |
| Sonia quietly positive; Modi gloats after vote |
| 2002-05-01 |
| Hours after the Opposition-led censure motion on Gujarat was defeated in Parliament, leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi, and the person believed to be the ultimate cause of the situation in Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, made public appearances in the violence-hit state, displaying contrasting moods. Modi and making Sonia and Congress look good. This is her moment to shine... Sonia Gandhi was restrained but confident, having won the moral battle, though losing the vote in the final tally, and Modi was defiant and blustery, triumphant over the NDA's performance in the trial of strength and his party's continued support. Kind of a cartoony bad guy, in fact. Modi dared his critics to have him dismissed, and said he had found the debate in Parliament "disappointing". The opposition was probably disappointed, too, that he wasn't even censured, much less sacked. He also criticised the Opposition for attacking Prime Minister AB Vajpayee by exploiting the situation in Gujarat. With 800 dead citizens, there's a lot there to exploit. Though both talked of the need of the hour — picking up the pieces in Gujarat — Sonia Gandhi said it should be through harmony between the two communities and Modi said he wanted it without the interference of outsiders who were tarnishing the state's image. Modi even had a personal message for Sonia Gandhi in his speech: Stop meddling with Gujarat, or else, "you may be the loser". He means hordes of brownshirts might show up at her rallies and beat people up. Maybe if they take a train, somebody'll set fire to it. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |