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Journalism of Courage
By refusing to name him,Modis opponents lend him a dark fascination
On Sunday,Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar walked out of the NDA,muttering that there was no other way in the BJPs new era. To be named PM,a candidate had to rally the support of 272 MPs,sniffed Nitish,and people were mistaken if they thought there was a wave or storm blowing their way. The elevation of a certain someone at the BJPs Goa meet seems to have been the last straw for the JDU. But party president Sharad Yadav was quick to point out on Monday that he had never mentioned anyones name,neither had Nitishji. Narendra Modi who?
By casting him as he-who-must-not-be-named,Modis opponents have lent him a dark fascination. Invoked,never named,the image of the leader has acquired mythic proportions. In peoples imaginations,he makes a picturesque advance towards Delhi,complete with chappan inch ki chhati and a fearsome hoonkar. His opponents would be much better off naming him. Modi the mortal is easier to fight than Modi the Goliath-like spectre.
