Protest Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s Approval of Murderous Modi Government

Protest Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s Approval of Murderous Modi Government Friends, We note with horror the recent announcement by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation judging Gujarat, under its Chief Minister Narendra Modi, as “the number one state" in the country in terms of what it calls "economic freedom index". Ironically, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is headed by none other than Sonia Gandhi, President of the Congress Party, who claims to be crusading against Hindutva-style fascism. The Foundation's certificate of approval to murderous Modi is being touted about with much fanfare by the Hindutva-walas, including in the form of full-length newspaper advertisements in order to promote Modi as a 'nationalist' icon. The Organiser, the RSS English language weekly, in its 5 June, 2005 issue, carries this note about the Foundation's declaration, under the title 'Gujarat Rated Number One State by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation', along with a picture of a beaming Modi: "The Foundation's study has defined economic freedom as ‘absence of government coercion or constraint in the production, distribution, or consumption of goods and services beyond the extent necessary for citizens to protect and maintain liberty by itself’. In other words, the Foundation does not agree that individual liberty is under threat in Narendra Modi’s Gujarat [...] The study is all praise for Gujarat as it grades the state government on its political decision making, the extent to which justice is served, levels of corruption and the extent of regulation in the labour market. The Indian index consists of 25 different components spread in the three broad areas, namely, size of government, security of property rights and regulation of credit and business. The study finds Gujarat on the top the these points. In Gujarat, the least number of man-days are lost as a result of strikes and lockouts as a ratio of total industrial workers in the state. The report also says that Gujarat has performed very well in the field of economic management and disinvestment. On the size of government, Gujarat is the leader. For only a small share of the GSDP is accounted for by government services. Here, the government has a small role as a subsidiser. Power subsidies are among the lowest in Gujarat. The study also finds that the power situation in Gujarat is one of the best in the country. Safety of life is an essential component (of economic freedom). Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh have a very small share of the total crimes being accounted for by violent crimes. The share is much higher in Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam, where murder, rape, kidnapping, abduction, riots, arson and dowry deaths are more rampant,” said the study by the Foundation. The findings do not end here. “In Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (all BJP-ruled states) a large share of the cases that are taken up by the police are ensured complete investigation, unlike in West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam. The report claims that Gujarat has the most business-friendly environment. “In Gujarat, the least number of mandays are lost as a result of strikes and lockouts as a ratio of total industrial workers in the state.” The report also says that Gujarat has performed very well in the field of disinvestment of public sectors. Gujarat’s liberal licence regime has also come for praise in the report. “Constraints on trade imposed by market and licence fees were also included in economic freedom. Corruption is also seen to be relatively low in Modi’s Gujarat. “Corruption is measured in terms of cases pending investigation as a ratio of total cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and related Acts. “In Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, a smaller share of the total cases registered are pending investigation. The situation, however, is bleak in West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar.” [http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=81&page=10] Friends, this report, as also the study on which it is based, is full of downright lies. It appears that the authors of the study commissioned by the Foundation have deliberately sought to give Modi and his murderous government a clean chit. As the Organiser’s report very clearly suggests, the study has completely ignored the central role of the Gujarat government, headed by Modi, in the mass murder of hundreds of Muslims in the state. It is also silent on the widespread persecution of Dalits, Gujarat having the dubious distinction of being one of the most oppressive states as far as Dalits are concerned. The report also highlights the fact, camouflaged in the guise of ‘economic efficiency’, the BJP government in the state is a staunch defender of the interests of capitalist exploiters, and is vehemently anti-labour. This is further proof of its anti-people policies and the fact that Hindutva is the ideology of the rapacious ruling class/caste elite. We appeal to you to sign this petition to protest against the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s study and the use that Hindutva-walas are putting it to in order to white-wash their genocidal crimes in Gujarat. Please sign the petition by clicking on http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?antimodi You can also send your individual letters of protest to the Foundation on info@rgfindia.com

To:  south asia

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Protest Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s Approval of Murderous Modi Government Petition to south asia was created by and written by Yoginder Sikand (ysikand@yahoo.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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