Gujarat has a shocking history of riots. The state has witnessed more than 400 riots since 1947, majority of which were during Congress rule. I don’t condone the death of these innocents but what I fail to understand is why the Congress gets the shield of secular while the BJP is labeled as communal. The Godhra riots are the considered a blot on the state, maybe because of the use of the state machinery for the massacre of the minorities. There may be extremists in every religion but what is traumatic is the use of state machinery for the massacre of a section of those who has entrusted faith in him by electing him as their representatives.

Modi won accolades in 2002 election and was projected as the hindutva warrior. But in this election, he has changed his perspective, that of a progressive leader. Still he has to do with dissidents like Keshubhai patel. He has to fight the Congress, which after the debacle in U.P. has little to depend on. In spite of projecting Rahul Gandhi as the face of Congress, the party remains without a leader and a program. If BJP wins this time round, the reason definitely will be because of the inability of the Congress to stand up to the occasion and give the people an alternate choice.