Thread by @urvish2020

For the interested in #RealGujaratModel, here are few specimen showing modus operandi of the regime. Nothing will come as surprise once you pass through this compilation.
A complete thread of the series I tweeted some time back as #GujaratScrapBook

Guj Home dept instructed police not to share news directly with journos, after clamping the info from Secretariat. Journos opposed. Min for state Amit Shah said police misunderstood & promised to amend. (Jan 2004, pic: Gujarat Samachar) #GujaratScrapBook-1 #RealGujaratModel

Banner of protesting journos read: Modi Govt pouncing on the freedom of journalists. Suffocating the right to information. Sounds familiar? It’s in 2004. #GujaratScrapBook-1 #RealGujaratModel
(Prashant Dayal at the front.)

CM Modi’s machinery started ‘Gujarat Satya Samachar’ to counter bitter criticism of ‘Gujarat Samachar’. With similar lay out & ‘Gujarat’ copied from original logo. (Indian Express, Oct 16, 2003) No social media and hence no cyber cell then. #GujaratScrapBook-2 #RealGujaratModel

2003: Gujarat Samachar vs. Gujarat Satya Samchar. 2021: The Guardian vs. The Daily Guardian. #RealGujaratModel

Modi's face turned in to Sardar's face. Literally. On a website privately managed by an 'old friend' and RSS man, who had direct link and access to Modi. Shameless and juvenile self-indulgence, here you go. (Indian Express: Nov 11, 2002) #GujaratScrapBook-3 #RealGujaratModel

Modi the CM saluting the national flag, donning a black RSS topi. Independence Day, 2003. Courtesy: Gujarat Times (a weekly published from US), 29-8-2003 #GujaratScrapBook-4 #RealGujaratModel

First, Modi managed a parachute entry as a CM of Gujarat ejecting Keshubhai, sidelining younger & older BJP leaders. With Advani’s blessings. Advani protected him from getting sacked after 2002. Then it was Advani’s turn to be pushed aside. #GujaratScrapBook-5 #RealGujaratModel

Journalists opposed when Modi’s Govt invoked Official Secret Act against 3 newspapers. Writing on the banner: ‘In Modi’s regime press freedom is in peril-Down with Modi’s dictatorship.’(Feb 8, 2005, Gujarat Samachar) #GujaratScrapBook-6 #RealGujaratModel

The God of Petty Things: (L) an idol of Lord Ganesha sitting on CM Modi’s shoulder. Aug 27, 2002, IE. (R) Modi as Lord Krishna in a poster at Shivaji Park rally. Jan 13, 2003. His only claim to fame at that time: 2002. #GujaratScrapBook-7 #RealGujaratModel

Just months after the longest spell of large scale violence in Gujarat, CM Modi came up with Gaurav Yatra (Pilgrimage of Pride). In photo, he’s weighed in silver during PoP at Vijapur (North Gujarat). 10-9-2002. ToI #GujaratScrapBook-8 #RealGujaratModel

‘Rasta Roko’ A call to jam the roads. By Gujarat Khedoot Sangharsh Samitee (Gujarat Farmers’ Agitation Committee) Demands: Abolish the increase in rates of electricity & irrigation. Remove meters from farming. Dt: 12-3-2004 #GujaratScrapBook-9 #RealGujaratModel

CM Modi attached sarkari pride with people’s fest of Kite flying. His projection: Criticism of 2002 riots insulted ‘Gujarat’. Forget shame. Let’s take pride. In any damn thing. He gathered NRI Gujaratis for events too. 30-12-2003 #GujaratScrapBook-10 #RealGujaratModel

Gujarat Govt under CM Modi declared signature of parents a must for registration of marriage. The decision was widely resented and had to be withdrawn ultimately. An illustration with the report. Gujarat Samachar. 25-7-2005 #GujaratScrapBook-11 #RealGujaratModel

When Gujarat was ravaged by floods in 2004, CM Modi had his cut out (pic 1) over the photo of flooded landscape (p 2) to give the impact of aerial survey (p 3). It was an appeal card for CM Relief fund. Enlarge pics to see self-projection. #GujaratScrapBook-12 #RealGujaratModel

Pic-1&2: possibilities of telemedicine. speech at Indian Science Congress, 2005. By CM Modi. Pic-3: Need to take telemedicine to villages: PM Modi, 2021. And also see how he mixed up yog on tv with telemedicine. #GujaratScrapBook-13 #realgujaratmodel

Ref. ‘An inconvenient truth’ (2006) by Al Gore, CM Modi ‘wrote’ a book ‘Convenient Action’(2010),McMillan Education. Ghost-written by an IAS. Launch presided by Kalam. Chief Guest RK Pachauri. His hollowness all out for statesmanlike image. #GujaratScrapBook-14 #realgujaratmodel

Juvenile word play was a fav toolkit of CM Modi. “Catchwords wrap Modi’s plans in smart packages.” ToI, 18-2-2004. (See box item) It reports a CD on a project is ready but not released ‘because Modi has not come up with a suitable name.’ #GujaratScrapBook-15 #realgujaratmodel

“World’s biggest industrial centre, bigger than Shenzhen Industrial City, will come up in Dholera.” reads the headline, as a part of the interview of CM Modi. “There will be mini-Japan & mini-Europe in Gujarat.” Divya Bhaskar, 14-10-2008. #GujaratScrapBook-16 #realgujaratmodel

“I haven’t discriminated against anybody. Gujarat is a picture of communal harmony.” claimed CM Modi at Friends of Gujarat, London. Gujarat Times, 29-8-2003. He claimed Gujarat also has right over water of (Pakistan’s) Indus River. #GujaratScrapBook-17 #RealGujaratModel

Prompt at gobbling up all the credit, CM Modi claimed 108 ambulance service was totally state funded. Centre didn’t give a penny. Turned out Centre gave ₹61 Crore and state ₹14 Crore. Gujarat Samachar, 26-2-2009 #GujaratScrapBook-18 #realgujaratmodel
(correction:14 Crore)

A Yatra to honour constitution. Its replica was put on an elephant. Touted as a first of its kind. Held at Surendranagar. (24-1-10) Remember CM Modi bowing to Keshubhai? Advani? To Parliament as PM? Beware when he bows. #GujaratScrapBook-19 #realgujaratmodel

3 attempts on the life of CM Modi followed by ‘encounters’. Indian Express (19-6-2004) finds a pattern. The Saviour Is In Danger. Curiously, there was not a single attempt after all fav ‘encounter-specialists’ were sent behind bars. #GujaratScrapBook-20 #realgujaratmodel

“Modi, time to pack up” (Editorial, Indian Express. 29-5-2004) “By every possible measure, Modi’s continuance in office has become unfeasible, untenable, indefensible.” “Even politically after over 60 BJP MLAs came out against him.” #GujaratScrapBook-21 #RealGujaratModel

‘Ahmedabad Eye’(à la London Eye), a tethered balloon, “like Paris, Las Vegas, Berlin” was “dedicated to people” at A’bad. CM Modi took first ride. Was greeted as part of Vikas. Gujarat Samachar 9-9-10 pic courtesy: deshgujarat.com #GujaratScrapBook-22 #realgujaratmodel

CM Modi taking blessings of Nityananda. Vadodara. 9-10-2009. Nityananda gave ₹2.5 Lakh to State’s girl child education scheme. Modi went there in chopper to release a book by Nityananda, according to
(Indian Express) #GujaratScrapBook-23 #realgujaratmodel

CM Modi’s blatant lie exposed. He claimed PM Singh called him to cancel his Britain visit for security reasons. Turned out HM Patil called-advised Modi and Modi called the PM to inform. (Not the other way round) Gujarat Samachar 26-3-05 #GujaratScrapBook-24 #realgujaratmodel

‘Chowkidar’ used probably for the first time. Pamphlet of 2007 assembly election. Promise: chowkidar of your money. Deliverance: Evading discussion on CAG reports. Tabling them too late/ on the last day of assembly. #GujaratScrapBook-25 #realgujaratmodel

CM Modi gives appointment orders to ‘Vidya Sahayak’ (VS) in a function. (4-7-2010) 1. Before Modi, postmen delivered orders. 2. VS had ₹3,500 pm salary for 5 years. Official exploitation + disastrous for education. 3.Sheer self-branding. #GujaratScrapBook-26 #realgujaratmodel

“Modi Govt no. 1 in corruption.” ‘Sandesh’ daily(24-8-2011). A full page report quoted CAG and claimed corruption (financial irregularities) of ₹26,672 Crores in 9 years of CM Modi’s rule. When he was conveniently supporting Anna movement. #GujaratScrapBook-27 #realgujaratmodel

From Bharatiya Kisan Sangh’s statement. After 2004 defeat of NDA. “Had Modi any concern for Hindutva, he won’t have played a butcher for the farmers.’ It used 3 adjectives: भाषणखोर, तमाशाखोर, कावतराखोर (Crafty). Gujarat Samachar, 15-6-2004 #GujaratScrapBook-28 #RealGujaratModel

The Gujarat ‘Model’. Endless fetish for dressing, posing & projecting self. Monogrammed suit was a logical extension. All pics from Dec 2007 assembly election pamphlets. #gujaratscrapbook-29 #realgujaratmodel

The vibrant eyewash that made CM Modi dear to the industrialists and free economy pundits who coined words like ‘Modinomics’. Brand promotion ad of Indian Express. 29-1-2009. The copy reads: First to report Our history, our habit. #gujaratscrapbook-30 #realgujaratmodel

“Our Narendrabhai in jail? Is it fine with you?” Cried the headline of BJP ad, with a pic of jail bars. (There were hoardings too.) In spite of CM Modi’s usual bravado of “Hang me if I’m guilty”. Appeal to defeat UPA in 2009 election. #GujaratScrapBook-31 #realgujaratmodel

Destination Chintan: 4 day ‘Chintan Shibir’ for Govt officials at ‘tent city’ in Rann of Kutch. To discuss 50 golden resolves-50 golden targets on 50 years of Gujarat. Speakers including Kalam. Imagine the showbazi & expenditure. 4-12-2009 #GujaratScrapBook-32 #realgujaratmodel

Before social media, there was a tv channel with opaque financing named ‘Vande Gujarat’. It projected CM Modi dutifully. Its webcasting and mobilecasting was available too (along with broadcasting on cable network). 9-10-2007 #gujaratscrapbook-33 #realgujaratmodel

Call it ears on the ground or PR on the roll. ToI, 19-3-2009, Front page headline: Modi saddles up for key role at Centre. Read the box matter in 2nd photo. #GujaratScrapBook-34 #RealGujaratModel

One more grand & hollow event. Planting 1,85,70,000 trees (‘वीरांजलि वन’) in 18,324 villages, 141 towns, 7 mega cities. In memory of martyrs of 1857. To celebrate 150 years. 9-8-2007. Who will count 1,85,70,000 anyway? Where’re trees? #GujaratScrapBook-35 #realgujaratmodel

Once Upon A Time In The West. PM Vajpayee said, ‘I wanted to remove Modi.’ After loosing 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Indian Express, 14-6-2004 #gujaratscrapbook-36 #realgujaratmodel

A clean chit before the clean chit: ‘In your heart you know he is right...’ (before official clean chit was given to him. Don’t get into ‘how’?) 2007 assembly election ad. 5-12-2007 #GujaratScrapBook-37 #realgujaratmodel

Terrorist attack during other govt: Rulers coward, ineffective. In Modi's rule: Hail unity and 'failed efforts to scuttle Vikas'. Also, 'brave-fearless people of Gujarat will fight terrorism.' (hoardings after 2008 Ahmedabad bomb blasts) #GujaratScrapBook-38 #RealGujaratModel

The elected 'King of Good Times' CM Modi visited Ahmedabad river front with ministers Anandiben Patel, Nitin Patel and architect Bimal Patel (in first pic). 19-11-2009 The word 'cowboy' popped up in mind with a 'cow belt' connotation. #GujaratScrapBook-39 #RealGujaratModel

Some alternative careers imagined for CM Modi as a tribute to his working style. Aarpar weekly, 28-3-2005 1. Splitter (of atoms) 2. Ring master 3. Spiritual Guru. #GujaratScrapBook-40 #RealGujaratModel 41st will be the last in series. 42nd will be #ModiMyths in brief.

Guj Govt introduced ‘Kalyan Chhab’ (welfare box) in which things for free distribution, including condoms, were kept at fair price shops. The box had pics of a condom, CM Modi & Health minister Ashok Bhatt on it. Gujarat Samachar, 13-9-2006 #gujaratscrapbook-41 #RealGujaratModel

ModiMyths:
1. No family. Hence not corrupt. (Burning ambition needs more money)
2. Very efficient. (In self-projection & fixing opponents)
3. Modinomics. (Never had any economic policy)
4. Great communicator. (Cheap, Polariser)
5. Vikas (Events, Lies, Vanity)