Asaram Bapu case puts Modi on backfoot

Main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may not have officially declared Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as the PM candidate for the 2014 general elections but he is treading fast towards fulfilling his dream of being elected as the leader of the nation in 2014.

However, the recent Asaram Bapu case has created roadblocks on Modi’s path towards his dream.

The self-proclaimed ‘Godman’ has been arrested in connection with the case of sexual assault lodged against him by a 16-year-old girl. The incident allegedly took place on August 15th in his ashram outside Jodhpur city.

Launching a circuitous attack on the self-styled guru, Modi on Friday said if saints will indulge in such things, then it is a big blot on the society. This statement may deflect voters from Modi’s court and he may lose millions of followers of Asaram.

According to India Today reports, recently, Modi had apparently ordered the state administration to investigate Asaram’s ashram properties in the state, many of which are said to have come up flouting government rules.

Also, there are reports that Vanzara deceived his ‘God’ to strike back over the infidelity by his ‘God’. There are stories that Vanzara lost his cool when he saw his ‘God’ (Modi) harrying his guru. He was apparently so much devoted to the guru that he would drink milk only from the dairy at Asaram’s Motera ashram.

These reasons were not enough as there are many more reasons to add on to the troubles of Modi.

The UPA government successfully discussed, debated and passed two landmark bills in a week in the Parliament. One bill gives right to poor Indians to get food grain at minimal prices and the other bill seeks to provide just and fair compensation to farmers, while ensuring that no land can be acquired forcibly.

In spite of having opponents for both the bills, they were debated and passed with enough numbers required. The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party reiterated as to what the bill would cost to the country, but it did not had the courage to oppose it as it would have put on stake a major chunk of votes, just seven months ahead of general elections.

The passing of two major bills have left BJP clueless as to how to devise a magic strategy to woo voters in the 2014 elections.

However, according to a latest survey conducted by ABP News-Nieslen, Modi is leading the race for the post of prime minister.

The opinion survey says, BJP-led NDA has a clear edge over the UPA in terms of support base if Lok Sabha polls were held now and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s performance is rated below that of his government.

Now, the questions will be answered in 2014, whether the country elect Manmohan Singh, who is the architect of India’s economic reforms or Narendra Modi, a controversial Hindu politician and a dominant force in the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)?