Controversy over WikiLeaks’ comment on Modi

Cites US cable that says he rules by fear and intimidation

New Delhi, March 18:

The BJP was left red-faced on Tuesday as WikiLeaks denied that its founder Julian Assange had ever endorsed the principal opposition partys prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as incorruptible.

In a series of tweets, the whistleblower website disclosed a secret cable by a senior US diplomat eight years ago that described Modi as a distrustful person who reigns more by fear and intimidation.

The website tweeted details of a number of observations made by the then Mumbai-based Consul General Michael S Owen on Modis leadership in a cable after his visit to the state in 2006.

No WikiLeaks document say #Modi is incorruptible, rather he is popular because viewed as incorruptible, WikiLeaks said. Wikileaks said the term incorruptible was apparently used by a Gujarat Congress leader Manoharsinh Jadeja.

Fake endorsement

The Narendra #Modi incorruptible quote comes from Rajkot Congress party leader Manoharsinh Jadeja, it said.

In another tweet, WikiLeaks accused BJP of using the fake Assange-Modi endorsement to raise funds. WikiLeaks went on to tweet a secret cable sent by the US Embassy in 2006 that criticised Modis style of functioning.

Views remain divided on whether Modis leadership style will help or harm him if he enters national politics. In public, Modi can be charming and likable. By all accounts, however, he is an insular, distrustful person... He reigns more by fear and intimidation than by inclusiveness and consensus, and is rude, condescending and often derogatory to even high level party officials. He hoards power..., one such diplomatic cable under a sub-heading Modis Leadership Style said.

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Controversy over WikiLeaks’ comment on Modi