ABP
News: Article: Saturday, 29 November 2014.
At the least,
Jashodaben Modi’s RTI query seeking clarity on privileges due to her for being
the Prime Minister’s ‘wife’ is a huge embarrassment to Narendra Modi. It knocks
down the skilfully constructed halo of public morality and demonstrates that he
too has unresolved skeleton-like personal issues in his cupboard. Unless the
matter is resolved between the two individuals away from public glare, there is
grave risk of the matter escalating and causing greater awkwardness for the
Prime Minister. Undeniably, this is a problem of Modi’s own making and reflects
insensitivity towards a lady whose only misfortune is that she was betrothed at
a young age to a man who eventually forsook her.
The incident
reveals a flaw in Modi’s personality just as the decision to take a selfie
after voting in April did. While the latter underscored the malady of
self-adulation, the decision of the ‘abandoned’ wife reflects that tendency to
sweep disconcerting issues beneath the carpet. It is also a pointer towards an
inner core that is insensitive towards aspirations of others, especially those
in a weaker position. The saga involving Modi’s ‘wife’ has to be framed
sequentially to secure a grip on the unfolding melodrama.
When young,
Modi and Jashodaben were committed to each other by their families, probably
either known to each other or with common friends and relatives in between.
That was the first stage of a three-staged wedding, commonplace in most parts
of India at that time. It is unclear when this ritual was performed but one
supposes it was when they were still pre-pubescent children. The second stage,
before gauna when the couple are expected to begin cohabiting was held in the
late 1960s when the young man was completing school. From various available
accounts which remain the most reliable sources in the absence of disclosure
from Modi, it appears that the young man did not wish to honour the marriage.
It is not
known if the two events are interlinked - but around that time in 1967, Modi
left home to wander around the country for a couple of years. He returned but
only to find that he was still expected to honour the family commitment to
Jashodaben. He left home once more, and did not pay a visit for almost two
decades. In the course of these years, he chalked out a career in the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh.
True that
Modi had no control over the marriage till the second stage. But thereafter, he
began taking decisions central to his life: he left home, wandered around,
returned and then left again to eventually join the RSS. The decision to become
Pracharak was a personal one. The rules of RSS at that time forbade anyone who
was married to become Pracharak. Old timers in RSS do not remember knowing
about Modi’s marriage till the early 1990s when the media got wind of it. In
all probability the fact of his marriage was hidden from RSS leaders. But more
importantly, when he was not living with Jashodaben why was she not legally
divorced so that she could choose a life with a different partner if she so
desired?
Modi was a
young party apparatchik when his marriage was first reported by two
Gujarat-based journalists. The matter however was soon forgotten as Modi was
not an important enough leader for his private life to remain in spotlight for
long. After he became chief minister, some reporters tried to track Jashodaben
in Brahmanwada, her village. But they were prevented and one journalist is on
record that he was personally accused by Modi of pursuing an “agenda”.
Thereafter in elections after election, Modi did not mention the existence of
his marital status because it was not mandatory. He was forced to do so for the
Lok Sabha polls.
The media
continued to keep off Jashodaben till matters surfaced in the public domain.
The media turned its attention on her only after Modi included Jashodaben’s
name in his affidavit. The same is the case now. This article for instance,
would not have been written unless the RTI application was filed. Ironically,
Modi implored people to exercise rights granted by the RTI Act. His preaching
has boomeranged on him.
That the SPG
protects her is evidence of the fact that Jashodaben continues to be his legally
wife and he has certain duties just as she has certain rights. This is the
first time that a conflict within marriage of any Prime Minister has come into
public light. Indira Gandhi was spared the situation because Feroze Gandhi died
before she became PM.
Clearly the
status accorded to her since May has not been to Jashodaben’s satisfaction. She
would be having a private demand and the RTI application is a move to get those
addressed. Modi has to attend to that private demand. If this is not done and
he keeps the matter unresolved like he has done since early 1970s when he
joined RSS, it is only likely to snowball into a more embarrassing situation
for him.
The last
thing Modi would want is for her to address a press conference and make public
what is not known about the wedding. Probably it is the right time for him to
make full disclosure. He need not address the media and instead a well-crafted
statement can resolve the issue after a negotiated agreement with Jashodaben.
Modi must remember the old idiom: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
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