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Journalism of Courage
The brutal murder of former Gujarat minister Haren Pandya comes as a reminder that the threat of violence in Narendra Modi8217;s Gujarat 8212; even while it may not be as overt as it was a year ago 8212; is very much a part of the state8217;s reality. It is amazing that those who preside over a state that has been on permanent alert since the Akshardham Temple massacre, one that has evoked the clauses of Pota so freely in order, supposedly, to ensure the security of people, were clueless about the security threat facing one of their more prominent and controversial colleagues. It is amazing, too, that Pandya was discovered with his bullet injuries only two hours after he had been attacked in one of the most high profile localities of Ahmedabad, and that too in the clear light of day.
There has been endless speculation over the identity of Pandya8217;s assassins, and several theories have already been propounded in this regard. Some are convinced that it is the mafia8212;whose wrath Pandya courted as Gujarat8217;s home minister during the Keshubhai government8212;that is behind the dastardly attack. Some, more rash, lay the blame at Pakistan8217;s door and see it as a plot to eliminate a 8216;8216;Hindu leader8217;8217;. Others still believe that the reasons for it are located in the state8217;s politics, since the assassinated man happened to be both ambitious and charismatic. It has therefore become incumbent upon the state government to get to the truth in the shortest possible time. In fact, Narendra Modi has a personal reason to ensure that this happens because of the well-publicised spat between him and the late MLA from the Ellis Bridge constituency. Pandya8217;s supporters, by raising angry anti-Modi slogans in the wake of their leader8217;s death, have only added to the confusion. It is probably this factor that has forced Modi to order a CBI inquiry into the murder, although the possible inter-state dimensions of the case have been cited as the official reason for the step.
