Modi blooms in Shivaji Park in new avatar but old rhetoric

As Modi’s helicopter prepared to land, the tune of Vande Mataram filled the air. Everyone took a backseat as Modi, accompanied by BJP national vice-president Gopinath Munde, state unit president Pandurang Phundkar and city unit chief Vinod Tawade, ‘bloomed’ on the specially designed stage in a pink-coloured lotus flower.

As he climbed on to the podium, which looked like Red Fort, there was a loud burst of drumbeats, tutari music, fireworks and release of saffron-coloured balloons from different parts of the ground.

When he stood up to address the lustily-cheering crowd, a Sanskrit song eulogising his achievements played loudly and select videotapes of Modispeak were beamed on specially erected screens.

Significantly, the BJP avoided referring to Modi as ‘Hinduhriday samrat’ a term synonymous with Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. Instead they chose to call him ‘Nyayadayi’, ‘Swayamsevak’ and ‘Dristidayi purush’.

Predictably, Modi did not disappoint the crowd. His opening gambit Kem cho? (‘How are you’ in Gujarati) and Kasa kai? Mala aata vattai me Mumbaikar aahe (‘How are you. I feel as if I am a Mumbaiite’ in Marathi) had the crowd clapping enthusiastically. ‘‘I am here in Mumbai to enquire about the health of Vilasrao Deshmukh. I will do so in all the Congress-ruled states. Fourteen chief ministers came to defeat me. When it did not happen, their health (political) went on the downslide. Gujarat does not provoke anyone but once provoked it will not rest till each one is vanquished,’’ said Modi.

‘‘Through democracy, the people of Gujarat have defeated those who have hurt their sentiments.’’ He was soon on familiar ground. Referring to Congress president Sonia Gandhi as ‘Madam’ and ‘Italy ki beti’, he joked about her statements on Hindutva. ‘‘When I refused to stop the Jagannathji Yatra, Congressmen ran to Madam and pleaded with her to do something.

After considerable thought, she asked — which party does this Jagannath belong to? Do we have to now learn Hindutva from her?’’ he thundered.

According to Modi, victory or loss of the BJP cannot be linked to Hindutva as Hindutva cannot be defeated; it is invincible. ‘‘Our generation is lucky to be vested with the responsibility of continuing the struggle to promote Hindutva. Pre-1947 the country was not plagued by any ills as we followed the principles of Hindutva. Post-1947, the country is facing serious turmoil after we gave up Hindutva.

The disparity has started after giving up Hindutva. All other civilizations in the world have degenerated but the over-10,000-year-old civilization of this country has not fallen apart because of Hindutva,’’ said the leader.

Turning to ‘Mian Musharraf’, Modi said he was running ‘‘a semi-terrorism campaign against this country. The Ghatkopar bus blast, fake currency rackets, drug pushing, ISI networks, attacks on churches etc indicate that he is promoting soft terrorism.

Mian Musharraf is an enemy of humanity. He was responsible for the death of a small child at Akshardham. That child will become Durga Mata and seek vengeance against him for every drop of blood shed at Akshardham,’’ he said.