Modi praise: Cells to switch off in protest

As a mark of protest against India Inc’s support of Narendra Modi as prime ministerial candidate, an online petition to switch off cellular phones for a day on Jan 30 on the 61st death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi has been floated by a Bangalore-based filmmaker Ranjan Kamath, reports Shalini Singh.

As a mark of protest against India Inc’s support of Narendra Modi as prime ministerial candidate, an online petition to switch off cellular phones for a day on January 30 — on the 61st death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi — has been floated by a Bangalore-based filmmaker Ranjan Kamath.

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Kamath said the idea behind the petition was triggered during a Gandhi-legacy tour of Ahmedabad where he saw soft influences of Hindutva.

“Post 26/11, we are all responding to what we see and feel around us. The captains of India Inc who supported Modi as PM own cellular companies. If Gandhi had been alive today, he would have asked people to switch off their phones. I found my inspiration in Gandhi’s non-violent ideal,” he said.

The filmmaker said, “I am proud of the brands you represent that have made India proud... But when I saw you embrace the fascist mastermind of state-sponsored genocide as a future prime minister and endorse the Modi-fication of India, it was disappointingly apparent that the brands that aspire to make India rich shall continue to languish in ethical poverty.”

Putting his weight behind the petition, writer Jerry Pinto said, “The only way one can make a difference is to vote with your wallet. If a company is behaving unethically, best is to hit it where it hurts the most — boycott its product.” So far 824 people have signed up.