Writers selective in attacking Modi: Venkaiah Naidu

BENGALURU: Taking umbrage to the decision of authors and scientists to return their awards, Union urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday accused them of adopting double standards, saying they were selective in attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “growing intolerance” but ignoring wrongdoings of Congress, including imposition of emergency in 1975.

Speaking at 141st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel here, Mr Naidu said, “Why did these writers not raise the issue of intolerance during the regime of Congress in Maharashtra when Dhabolkar was killed? Why are they not writing a word against the Congress government in Karnataka where Dr Kalburgi was murdered? Who is in power in Uttar Pradesh where the Dadri episode occurred? It is Mulayam Singh party's government. But some writers are attacking Modi for all these incidents. What is Mr Modi’s connection with these incidents?”

Listing several episodes, Mr Naidu asked why intellectuals were silent when Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen or music director, A.R. Rehman were attacked. “Intellectuals had no voice when Sikhs were massacred, or emergency was imposed. Even when naxalites were violently killing people, these writers maintained stoic silence. Now, all of a sudden, they have realised that they had return their awards in the name of condemning growing intolerance,” he added.

He charged that intolerance was growing in the country not among the people but among intellectuals.

“What tamasha these intellectuals are trying to play?” he queried even as he took exception to media houses using the phrase right wing Hindu extremists rampantly whenever incidents of attacks like the one witnessed in Dadri or gunning down of Prof Kalburgi are being reported.

Mr Venkaiah Naidu attempted to list similarities between Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. He said “As Patel was a decisive and determined leader, so is Mr Modi. Patel was from Gujarat and so is Mr Modi.” Besides, he said Mr Modi had all the qualities possessed by Patel.

Mr Naidu asserted that commemoration of ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ was not an attempt to tarnish anyone’s legacy in the country. He said the BJP had been in forefront of the struggle to get due credit for all those leaders like Patel who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of this country. “BJP is not opposed to Nehru or Indira Gandhi’s legacy or their contributions. Our only concern is to fight for equal pedestal for all leaders such as Bhagat Singh, Patel, Madan Mohan Malviya and several such leaders,” he added.