The once upon a time tea boy currently in first position to lead 1.2 billion people has had his hopes scalded by the spilled venom of twenty odd universities in the United Kingdom who have all gotten together to indict him as a danger to Indian democracy. What is it about Modi that scares people so much?

Perhaps it is the fact that whenever one of his minions opens his mouth and puts his foot in it on communal issues and other brain dead statements, Modi prefers to stay silent rather than address the matter. There is this constant fear percolating that he will create a great divide between Hindus and Muslims and take the nation a bridge too far. Look at this intellectual lot.

“Around 75 academics from universities across Britain, led by Chetan Bhatt of the London School of Economics, Tuesday expressed their collective concern over the upcoming government in India, through a letter, titled “The idea of Modi in power fills us with dread” to The Independent newspaper in Britain.

“We are deeply concerned at the implications of a Narendra Modi-led BJP government for democracy, pluralism and human rights in India,” the group said in the letter.

Fine, OK you are entitled to your opinion but for sheer armchair pundits this really takes the cake. The letter said the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate has been embedded in the Hindu nationalist movement, namely the RSS and other Sangh Parivar groups, with their history of inciting violence against minorities.

Even the minorities don’t think that but these Indo-Anglian British-based academics puff on their pipes and are absolutely in touch with the grass roots of India.

We do not know how good or bad he is and we won’t know until we taste the bloody pudding. But until India does that these sort of pseudo-intellectual indictments are based on prejudice, not fact.

Referring to Modi’s alleged role in the 2002 Godhra riots in Gujarat, the academics said: “This violence occurred under Modi’s rule and senior government and police officials have provided testimony of his alleged role in encouraging or permitting it to occur.”

That was 12 years ago, get on with it. There is no man or woman seeking power or in power who cannot be indicted for bias, prejudice, racism, communalism and reneging on his electoral promises.

Maybe Modi will be a disaster but India votes peacefully and in great numbers and if the other horses in the race cannot hack it then let the nag win and we’ll see if this nation stumbles or gallops forward.

Look at the scary premise of half-truth that inspires this collegial attack.

“He has never apologized for hate speech or contemptuous comments about various groups — including Muslims, Christians, women and Dalits. His closest aide has been censured recently by India’s Election Commission for hate speech used in this election campaign.”

Who badmouthed India more than Churchill? Who called India a nation of coolies? Have the British apologized for enslaving India for centuries and looting her wealth?

Is there a time statute to saying sorry? No, there isn’t.

The group has contended that a Modi-led BJP government would lead to greater moral policing, especially of women, increased censorship and vigilantism, and more tensions with India’s neighbors.

Moral policing: Don’t worry, we have been hypocrites so long, no difference. Women power: Even Modi cannot halt the women’s rights movement and he would be an idiot to try.

Vigilantism occurs in our police and justice system, in our panchayats and our khaps (rural bully boys).

India’s relations with her neighbors couldn’t get worse if Modi even took that route. Back off and let the voter decide…