The claim Mr.Modi never made, and nonsense surrounding it


Ahmedabad, 26 June 2013

It was the Times of India story that said Modi rescued 15,000 Gujaratis stranded in Uttarakhand. Modi was not quoted as saying this. This was Times of India journalist’s independent assessment. The news report described Modi as Rambo in its headline. Modi himself had not claimed he acted like Rambo.

But then came our Modified Congress politicians and manipulated media. They -the super spin doctors – started shouting that Mr. Modi claimed he rescued 15,000 Gujaratis in calamity-hit Uttarakhand like Rambo. Look at the video(below) featuring Union Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tiwary. He first gives a reference of a news item, that claimed Modi saved 15,000 people, but in same breath Mr. Tiwary then said that Modi praised himself and claimed he rescued 15,000! Is Manish Tiwari an Information minister or Misinformation minister? Yesterday at Gujarat Congress headquarters senior Sonia/Rahul loyalist Shri Motilal Vora attacked Modi over same ‘claim’ of rescue! Why any journalist didn’t ask that when Mr. Modi said he rescued 15,000 Gujaratis in Uttarahkand, and when Mr. Modi said that he acted like Rambo?

And look at this news channel video. The story in the video is about Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi attacking Modi for same claim described above(that Modi actually never made). Forget the Congress leader, the anchor and reporter too jump-in and say that Modi claimed he rescued 15,000 Gujaratis! Just listen to their commentary! How falsehood is spread and how manipulations and spins do work in TV media! Can this anchor, reporter explain, when did Mr. Modi claim he rescued 15,000? What nonsense is going on here? And this was not one TV channel! Almost all news channels were making references to the issue involving ‘rescue of 15000 people’ in similar fashion!

And then there were tonnes of other statements, remarks, opinions, and TV discussions around the claim that Modi hadn’t made. Every Congress leader shouting and smiling and ridiculing the claim that Modi had not made! DeshGujarat receives all statements issued by the Gujarat government.During Modi’s visit to Uttarakhand, no claim on rescue was made and communicated officially! No such TV byte was given by Modi himself, or others. The Gujarat government issued a press release couple of days after Mr. Modi’s visit and declared that 6,000 Gujaratis were back from Uttarakhand, 2,500 were in process, and 100 were contacted! This was Gujarat government’s claim. It has not been discussed or mentioned in any discussion at all!

As Gujarat government was not permitted to carry out its own rescue operation, the role was only about coordinating with the local government and armed forces so far as the rescue part was concerned. Then the major job for the Gujarat government was to connect rescued people to their relatives and native places. Many pilgrims had no money left, some of them had lost their luggage, some had no medicines left, some were not able to hire any guest house. Some had no knowledge or idea about how they could travel back to Gujarat! As the armed forces had rescued women and ailing people first, some women were waiting for their husbands or sons to be rescued and come to Dehradoon, and they needed shelter. Some needed medical attention. Missing persons reported to the state government’s control room had to be traced! These all post-rescue tasks were performed by the Gujarat government team under the guidance of Mr. Modi. And the team is active even now. There are three major tasks involved during and after calamity; relief, rescue and rehabilitation. The state government had limited role to play in rescue part. But there was major scope to play some role in relief part. And the job is well done.

Modi for only Gujaratis!

Then the Shiv Sena joined the band wagon. In Samna editorial there was a remark that Modi is a national leader and he should focus on helping not only Gujaratis but also the people of other states during national calamity. We suggest Shiv Sena people to start reading Mediacrooks, and a book published by Mediacrooks. Under the impression created by spin doctors of mainstream media, Shiv Sena friends too started believing that national leader Modi was in Uttarakhand only to rescue Gujarati people!

Let’s see how this engineered perception was bogus.

Presented below was Modi’s first conversation with TV media after arrival at Uttarakhand. He clearly says that the planes to Ahmedabad shall also provide service to those who want to go to further south or to Rajasthan from there(from Ahmedabad). Listen to it carefully. No need to clarify that Shiv Sena’s home state Maharashtra is located at southern side of Gujarat.

Now watch this video that features Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to Shantikunj complex of Gayatri Pariwar where Gujarat and other state governments have opened help camp for calamity-hit people. Watch the video from 1.20 minute mark. Shri Modi said, “Shantikunj is the place where We have opened a center here to help all pilgrims whether they are from Gujarat or from outside Gujarat. We have appointed IAS officers here for that.” Also watch Modi’s address to Shanti Kunj from 5.20 minute onwards. Modi’s speech is entirely about Gujarat’s intention to help calamity-hit Uttarakhand.

Modi’s last media interaction in Uttarakhand was about Gujarat government’s intention to develop Kedarnath mandir campus(excluding the mandir itself). It was not about Gujarat or Gujaratis, but about a place that has been a centre of faith for crores of Hindus of this country.We have the details of Chief Minister Shri Modi’s meeting with Uttarahkand counterpart Mr. Vijay Bahuguna. The content of Mr. Modi’s meeting with Uttarakhand Chief Minister was not just about Gujaratis stranded there. The meeting was about overall rescue, relief and rehabilitation scenario.

After his Uttarakhand visit, addressing a youth gathering in Gandhinagar, Shri Modi appealed people to donate family kits for rehabilitation task in Uttarakhand. Collectors are asked to collect the donations. A special relief train will travel to Uttarakhand with this material. Is it about Gujaratis?

As he is the Chief Minister of Gujarat, it was obvious that people of Gujarat stranded in Uttarakhand received maximum benefit of him and his team, but to say that only Gujaratis were picked and helped is utter nonsense.