The Congress could invoke ‘real-politic’ and argue that in a communally divided Gujarat an aggressive secular polity will only strengthen Narendra Modi. It would also admit that in the past few months the Congress strategy has been to seek collaboration with the dissidents within the BJP. Many of the new allies of the Congress are deeply implicated in the violence of 2002 and all of them remain firmly committed to Hindutva politics. The Congress would argue that searching queries on 2002 would certainly weaken its ‘anti-Modi’ alliance and diminish its chances in the elections.

The Congress could diabolically argue that it is in the interest of the party at the national level that Gujarat remains a BJP ruled state and that Narendra Modi remains confined to Gujarat politics. A Modi ruled Gujarat remains a constant reminder to the rest of the country and its own recalcitrant allies of the dangers of allowing the BJP back to power at the Centre.

The Congress could also adopt the Modi argument that the elections in 2007 are to be fought on issues of governance and development and any reminder of the past violence can only lead the voters astray. It could argue that its emphasis on the welfare and well-being of the ‘common person’ is a far more attractive poll plank than a shaky faith in secular polity. It could also be as blatant as Modi and say that the riots are now subject to judicial processes and it does not wish to influence the judiciary or the riot commission by making any statement on the violence.

... contd.