Benazir and Musharraf, Modi and Thapar

I have been thinking of ending this year and beginning next year writing things pleasant. But the happenings around has forced me to take stock of our neighbourhood. I have not been too much of a fan of Benazir Bhutto. I have not been in awe of her baritone voice or her macho looks. But her assassination truly was something that shook me. She was after all the first woman Prime Minister of any Muslim nation and also the beacon of the Bhutto legacy and family, and her life snuffed out like this shows the terrorist politics of the region. Nawaz Sharief too needs to be aware of the risks, though I am sure he will know what it is to be a politician in the military-ruled Pakistan, that any Pakistani politician is open to. As long as Musharaff supports and has the support and blessings of the "groups", he need not worry about his life. He is safe. But the politics and the fabric of the Pakistani politics and society has definitely taken a sharp dip southwards. Hoping our bretheren too can breathe easy in a "free and democratic" Pakistan soon.

I was also reading a write up by Karan Thapar about "Modification of Politics". The last paragraph was something I could not really comprehend. What does Thapar mean by sudden removal of Modi? He should be careful about the words he uses. Whatever said and done, Godhra or whatever, Modi is the democratically elected leader. This statement is unbecoming of a senior journalist. Ofcourse everyone has the right to freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in the Indian Constitution but this is definitely inflammatory to say the least. Some check definitely needed here

P.S- I see that the last paragraph in this write up is blocked now. Is it intentional or just accidental. Anyways, here is what was there when I first read it


Only the sudden removal of Narendra Modi can stop this. For he is the agent forcing this change. And whilst he's with us, he will do just that. I have no doubt Indian politics after Sunday the 23rd is another country. We have to live with new challenges. Some of us have to accept new leaders.