[ad_1]
Politicians don’t wish to be reminded of the previous. For them, it’s “a international nation”. As LP Hartley put it “they do issues in another way there”. However that’s exactly what I intend to do immediately. As he tried and didn’t forge a brand new alliance with the BJP, I wish to recall what Naveen Patnaik mentioned 15 years in the past. Then I’ll depart you to return to your individual conclusion. I interviewed him after the horrific killings of Christians in Kandhamal in 2008. Not solely had they shaken the nation, they’d battered Patnaik’s status. He badly wanted to recuperate. That is how he introduced himself.
“Each bone in my physique is secular and I don’t suppose that any of these bones have been broken.”
Six months later, earlier than the nationwide elections of 2009, he broke his nine-year alliance with the BJP. I interviewed him once more.
NP: “It was vital to interrupt with the BJP as a result of I don’t take into account them any longer wholesome for my state. After Kandhamal that’s fairly obvious, I believe to everybody.”
KT: “You’re saying after Kandhamal you couldn’t have continued with the BJP beneath any circumstances?”
NP: “It had turn out to be very very tough.”
KT: “So Kandhamal in a way was a breaking level for you?”
NP: “Sure, certainly.”
This dialog went rather a lot additional. Certainly, he was keen that ought to occur.
KT: “When Kandhamal occurred the city center lessons started to match you with Narendra Modi. Some individuals even referred to as you a second Narendra Modi. Did that upset, even harm you?”
NP: “I actually might by no means personally take into account myself something like that. I all the time suppose in a secular method. I’ve a completely secular background. So, I by no means thought of that as an accurate allegation.”
KT: “Which implies that the comparability with Narendra Modi should have been deeply hurtful?”
NP: “I discovered it simply unbelievable.”
It was clear how Patnaik noticed the BJP post-Kandhamal however he had extra to say. He wasn’t completed.
KT: “After I interviewed you after Kandhamal you mentioned each bone in your physique is secular. Would you say immediately the break with the BJP proves that to be the case?”
NP: “What do you suppose, Karan? You’ve recognized me all my life.”
KT: “I’d say it proves the case.”
NP: “Thanks.”
My intuition advised me I wanted to ask one other query. It delivered the clincher.
KT: “Was it (the break) completed with that in thoughts?”
NP: “One all the time stands by one’s beliefs ultimately, don’t you suppose? Or one ought to stand by one’s beliefs.”
There it was — clear, concise, convincing. Patnaik had nailed his colors. His beliefs had reasserted themselves. The outdated Naveen was again. The BJP ally was historical past.
KT: “Many individuals say it took Naveen Patnaik 9 years to face up for his beliefs. Those that know you could have all the time recognized you might be secular, liberal, fashionable. They have been astounded that you just really had an alliance with the BJP and it lasted so lengthy. Why did it take you so lengthy to seek out your beliefs?”
NP: “You’ll have seen that for the final dozen years, the BJP has had numerous secular allies. Mamata Banerjee, (Ramakrishna) Hegde, Farooq Abdullah and even George Fernandes, Nitish Kumar. There have been numerous secular allies. And, in Orissa, we have been lucky within the first eight years there have been no communal incidents. It was not until Kandhamal that the entire image modified.”
Now there’s just one query left. What has altered since? Having damaged with the BJP and completed so properly thereafter, why was Patnaik pondering of returning? He doesn’t want them to win once more.
That’s not all. The BJP he broke with was led by LK Advani. The BJP he needed to return to is led by Narendra Modi.
I doubt I’ll ever be advised however I’d be intrigued to know the way he justifies this aborted try. In the meantime, I’ll depart you to return to your individual conclusion. It’s attainable a few of you may really feel you’ve guessed mine.
Karan Thapar is the creator of Satan’s Advocate: The Untold Story. The views expressed are private
[ad_2]
Source link
