Narendra Modi writes open letter to Anna Hazare

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wrote an open letter to social activist Anna Hazare, who successfully led a campaign that made the Union government to notify the joint drafting committee for the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Full text of the letter on his blog:

My heartfelt feelings in an open letter to Annaji

By Narendra Modi 11. April 2011 15:30

Respected Annaji,

On the eighth day of fasting in the Navratri I am inspired to write to you early at 5 O?clock in the morning.

When you were sitting at fast in Delhi during that period, I too was fasting on the occasion of Navratri, the period that symbolizes the embodiment of Divine Shakti. I was pleased indeed that by the grace of Maa Jagadamba I happened to be a co-traveller in your crusade albeit indirectly.

I was fortunate to have the darshan of Ma Kamakhya in Assam, in between the busy schedule of election campaigning and Navratri fasting. You were fasting then and so a prayer to Ma Kamakhya for your good health came quiet naturally. I feel that even this happened due to some divine blessing.

Last night, I returned to Gandhinagar at 2 am , after campaigning for elections in Kerala.

And it was yesterday in Kerala that I got the heartening news of your expressing good feelings for Gujarat’s development and me.

I am fortunate and grateful to get your blessings.

Respected Annaji, my respect for you is decades old. Before I entered politics I was full time RSS pracharak. At that time national leaders of the RSS who came to attend our meetings invariably discussed your rural development activities so that it could be emulated. It has tremendous impact on me. In the past I also had the good fortune of meeting you.

I and my state of Gujarat are indebted to you for the courage and conviction you showed in saying good words for me and my state. In this show of courage you exhibited commitment to truth and a soldier-like conviction. And because of this your opinion has been universally accepted.

I request you to also bless me that your praise does not make me complacent and commit mistakes.

Your blessings have given me the strength to do what is right and what is good. At the same time my responsibility has also increase many fold. Because of your statement crores of youth would now be having great expectations and therefore even a small mistake of mine will disappoint them. Therefore I have to remain vigilant and I seek your blessings for the same.

Respected Annaji, in this delicate moment, I should say that I come from a simple family and am a common man too. In my family no one is even distantly connected to politics or remains close to power; I do not have any illusion of being a perfect human being. I too have limitations, good and bad qualities, like every human.

I pray that I am always blessed by Mother Jagadamba so that bad qualities do not take possession of me. Always thinking of doing good to Gujarat, I would devote myself to the progress of Gujarat and therefore like to wipe out the tears from the face of the poor. For doing all this I pray that I am never short of your blessings, and this is my humble request.

Respected Annaji, you are a Gandhian and a soldier. Yesterday during election campaign in Kerala when I heard about your blessings for me and my state I feared that you will be subjected to vilification. A certain group inimical to -Gujarat will not let go this opportunity to malign your love, sacrifice, penance and commitment to truth. They will try to tarnish your name because you spoke well of me and my state.

As luck would have it this has come true. Once again this inimical forces have come to the fore. On the occasion of Navratri I pray to Maa Jagadamba that no one sullies your fair name.

you must be aware that it has become a fashion that whosoever talks true and good of Gujarat, will be subject to vilification in varied forms.

In the past a senior Muslim parliamentarian from Canoor constituency hailing from the Communist Party Shri P Abdulla Kutty was ostracized from the party following his praising of Gujarat?s development.

The superstar of this century Shri Amitabh Bachchan when he worked free for Gujarat Tourism was also attacked by this same group of inimical forces. They spread falsehoods against Bachchan so as to snap his old ties with Gujarat. At a public function in Mumbai where Bachchan was invited this group had stopped him from entering.

Also a campaign was let loose to malign the leading Gandhian of Gujarat Shri Gunavant Shah who is speaking for the atma-gaurav of Gujarat.

Maulana Ghulam Vastanavi of Gujarat who was elected as head of the Darul Uloom of Deoband was also subjected to vilification campaign when he praised the development of Gujarat. He had publicly said that Gujarat is surging ahead on the road of fast paced development, and without any religious discrimination everybody was getting the fruits of development. Soon he was silenced by undue harassment by the same forces.

Recently, Major General IS Sinha of Golden Katara division of Indian Army when he praised the development of Gujarat he too was beleaguered by the same forces and there was even a demand for disciplinary action against the major general.

These are only a few examples. But Gujarat?s real developmental journey is an anathema to this group bent upon heaping calumny on my state. Whenever the name of Gujarat is mentioned these forces immediately swing into action to spread canards and falsehoods.

Respected Annaji, Gujarat?s six crore people do not want that, the same group should sadden you.

I am still afraid that, this group will put you in trouble. May God give you strength.

I humbly bow to the sacrifices and penances you have made for the country. Let God bless you with supreme health so that many like me would be beneficiary of your guidance. This is my heartfelt prayer.

Yours,

(Narendra Modi)