Rahul Gandhi challenges Modi’s forte, projects his own

A politically convenient campaign formulation that the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi’s sympathisers have popularised — despite being seriously flawed — is whether politics has moved away from the debate on secularism to the one on governance. By addressing the 2002 massacre as a matter of governance rather than a question of religious identity, Mr. Gandhi is questioning Mr. Modi’s main claims of strength — good governance and strong leadership. Dismissing the clean chit given to Mr. Modi by the Special Investigative Team as “politically expedient” but “far too premature,” Mr. Gandhi told PTI: “Beyond that, there should be a legal accountability for the clear and inexcusable failure of governance under him.” Mr. Gandhi’s understanding of the 2002 riots has been in line with the Congress-led government’s approach towards minorities and other disadvantaged sections, but it has rarely been articulated in this fashion. By linking the Gujarat riots clearly to Mr. Modi’s claims about governance, Mr. Gandhi is trying to overcome his party’s timidity in taking on the BJP on this issue. Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal has been questioning Mr. Modi’s claims about Gujarat’s development, almost disregarding 2002 in the debate, but the Congress cannot afford to do that.