Narendra Modi is like Idi Amin, Hitler, Mussolini: Singhvi

All these dictators were popularly elected but their election did not mean their exoneration from charges of genocide and human rights violations, says Singhvi

Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Apr 17 2014 | 8:47 PM IST
Congress today put Narendra Modi in the rogue's gallery with the likes of "dictators" Hitler, Mussolini, Idi Amin and Zia Ul Haq.

"All these dictators were popularly elected but their election did not mean their exoneration from charges of genocide and human rights violations," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters, at a time when parties are busy in a high-decibel poll campaign.

Singhvi was reacting to the BJP PM candidate repeatedly ruling out in various interviews that he will not apologise for the 2002 Gujarat riots as "people's court has already judged him".

Also Read

Insisting that electoral verdicts in any way does not validate either genocide or communalism, Singhvi said both Hitler and Mussolini had won elections with wide margins and so was the situation with Idi Amin and Zia Ul Haq.

"Popularly elected dictators--Modi in Gujarat...And Idi Amin in Uganda... One thing is common: they are judge, jury and prosecutor, all rolled into one. They have no compassion, no 'karuna'. They never apologise as they are convinced of their infallibility. They look at the letter and never at the spirit," he said.

Noting that pride and arrogance also come to dictators, he suggested that they fail to understand that certain issues were not politics, but principles.

"Compassion and apology are ....Alien to BJP and Modi," he said noting that dictators never apologise as they feel that they are infallible.

He said that the issues of brotherhood, secularism and inclusion overshadow the development claims in Gujarat.

"What is the connect between and electoral victory and what happened in 2002 in Gujarat. Is it a Parkinson's logic," he said, adding there was no hope in hell that BJP was winning" when pointed about Modi's remarks that the issue of apology would not have arisen if he had lost the elections in 2002 or 2007.

Singhvi also refused to hazard a guess about Modi's remarks on 2014 Lok Sabha polls saying the BJP leader may be a soothsayer and prophets and will not predict what will happen.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Apr 17 2014 | 8:39 PM IST

Next Story