Accusing the media of a conscious effort at vilification of Narendra Modi,
senior BJP leader L K Advani today said no political leader in India's history
has been as "systematically and viciously maligned" as the Gujarat Chief
Minister.
"I have often felt that in India's political history no political leader has
been as systematically and viciously maligned as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Bhai Modi. Do not these reports also reveal a conscious effort at vilification",
Advani asked.
Advani was referring to media reports on former President A P J Abdul Kalam's
book 'Turning Points' where he discusses his visit to the state after the 2002
riots.
Writing on his blog, Advani said that he was surprised to see reports in the
media where then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee "was being found fault with
for trying to protect the Narendra Modi Government".
Advani said Vajpayee's casual query to Kalam: "Do you consider going to Gujarat
at this time essential" has been read by the media as the Prime Minister wanting
to stop the President from going to Gujarat.
He rued that no journalist has reported the compliments paid to Modi by Kalam in
his book.
"Dr Kalam has also referred to apprehensions he had heard that his visit may be
boycotted. Dr Kalam's actual experience was totally different. Modi and his
government enthusiastically cooperated with Dr Kalam. Yet no newsman thought it
worthwhile to report these complimentary observations of his!" he said.
Emerging story. Watch this space for updates as more details come in
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