DNAIndia ran an analysis earlier this year (March 23) of the Wikileaks cable on Gujarat’s controversial chief minister from the Hindu nationalist party BJP, Narendra Modi.
Well-regarded on the issue of corruption, the pro-business Modi has been permanently tainted by his alleged complicity in the 2002 Gujarat riots, in which a large number of Muslims were killed by Hindus. Modi and his supporters claim that the media, dominated by the opposing Congress Party had promoted a misleading view of the riots and the fact that it was provoked initially by Muslims killing Hindus traveling on a train.
The centrality of human rights to US policy, as professed in the cable, is characteristic of the expansive “liberventionist” (my neologism for humanitarian intervention or “liberation” of oppressed or endangered people) foreign policy, a policy very suitable for open-ended intervention anywhere for any reason.
“Noted human rights activist Father Cedric Prakash said, “one doesnt know the veracity of the wikileaks cables, but if it is to be believed, It seems the US is very clear that nothing will happen (about Modi’s rejected diplomatic visa) till there is clarity on human rights and religious freedom in Gujarat. If it is considered as interference, then the US business interests in Gujarat that Modi is so keen to promote, should also be seen as an intrusion as US companies do not come here out of any love for Gujarat or Gujaratis but for their profits.”
Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said, “Modi has very conveniently interpreted the cables. If they say that corruption is lesser at lower levels, it is also said that it is very high at top levels. It clearly says that money collected from corporates goes to the BJP. The cables also say that Modi has used caste and religion to divide people for political gains.”
“When they were discussing human rights violation with me, I looked into their eyes and said that America should not advise us on humanity. The whole world knows what they have done,” Modi said on Tuesday.”