Four episodes. Four sets of perpetrators. One convergence of intent. Binay Kumar Singh and Prashant Pandey have constructed their account of the attempts on Narendra Modi's life entirely from court judgements, chargesheet documents, and verifiable evidence — and what those documents reveal is a pattern that the authors argue no single news cycle captured clearly enough.
The four cases span nearly two decades: the 2004 Ishrat Jahan encounter, in which Modi was codenamed 'Paanch Number Machhlee' by the conspirators; the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, timed to target him at the hospital where he came to visit the injured; the 2013 Patna rally bombings, where multiple IEDs were planted when a suicide bomber failed; and the Bhima Koregaon case, in which documents referred to a 'Rajiv Gandhi-like incident'. In each case, Singh and Pandey also track the counter-narrative — how the same forces that planned or executed the attacks then reframed them publicly. The book identifies four groups whose interests converged: Islamic radicals, the Naxal-Left spectrum, certain NGOs and human rights organisations, and sections of the media and political class it calls willing allies.
Readers who want the primary source record — not the political commentary — on these four cases will find this the most document-grounded account available.
ABOUT THE BOOK: The Four Attempts on Narendra Modi's Life by author duo Binay Kumar Singh and Prashant Pandey takes a fact-based look at specific instances where anti-India forces sought not only politically but also physically, to eliminate Narendra Modi right since his days as Gujarat Chief Minister. Diving into the details of four cases-2004 Ishrat Jahan encounter case, 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, 2013 Patna Rally bombings and 2023 Bhima Koregaon case-the authors, based on court judgements and chargesheet documents, and other substantial evidence, expose the double game played by the forces opposed to him, and, indeed, Bharat. These forces intended to take Narendra Modi out of the equation at any cost. The underlying principle being that, if he cannot be physically eliminated, then he should be politically undermined so that the Bharateeyas, who have put their trust in him, lose faith in their leader. The book uncovers the convergence of four distinct groups -the Islamic radicals, the entire Naxal-Left spectrum and the so-called civil society including certain NGOs and sections in the media, besides several human rights organisations etc. So, he was "Paanch Number Machhlee (Fish number: 5)" for the terrorists (Ishrat Jahan encounter case); terrorists tried to eliminate him when he came to see people injured at the hospital in serial bomb blasts (Ahmedabad blast case); terrorists again initially tried using a suicide bomber on him during a rally, before deciding to explode multiple IEDs (Patna rally bombing); Or the Bhima Koregaon case accused planning 'Rajiv-Gandhi-like-incident'. However, their sympathisers portrayed the incident differently: An 'innocent girl' killed by the police (Ishrat Jahan); bombings in rally were only to benefit Modi and the BJP (Patna bombings); the 'Rajiv-Gandhi-like-incident' was merely a case of thinking aloud. The book also brings to light the rather surprisingly negative role played by a section of politicians, who completely overlooked the issues of national security in their attempt to remain politically relevant through appeasement politics, and win some brownie 'vote bank' points. The book is a timely reminder for the readers to take a critical look at the forces inimical to Bharat, whose hate for Modi is essentially a detestation of anything Bharateeya. As the nation is poised to take a big leap towards development and reclaiming its heritage, these forces will work very hard to derail the bandwagon. Worse, many of these forces have found willing allies within our country. The authors argue that only through vigilant awareness and firm resistance against the most lethal propaganda based fifth-generation warfare tactics can the nation continue on its path of rapid advancement. ~*~ "Meri ek chhoti prarthana hai... Aap yahaan se jaayenge, jaate samay koi jaldbaaji nahin karenge; koi accident nahin hona chaahiye... humaare kisi karyakarta kee, kisi Bihari bhai kee jaan nahin jaanee chaahiye... Hindustan mein kahin par bhi shanti pe chot nahin aanee chaahiye, ye sankalpa le kar ke chalen...; Bharat Maata ki Jai..." (I have a small prayer... When you go from this place, while going, nobody will be in haste... none of our worker, none my Bihari brothers should lose their lives... Peace should not be affected anywhere in India, leave this place with this sankalpa; Bharat Maata ki Jai...) -Narendra Modi, then Gujarat Chief Minister and emerging as leading candidate for Prime Minister's post, appealing for calm amid exploding bombs in his October 27, 2013 Patna rally, potentially saving many lives, as terrorists targeted him. ~*~ "When I was the chief minister of Gujarat, the Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts took place. I can never forget that day when the earth was reddened by the blood of the victims of the serial blasts. There were uncontrolled tears. I picked up the blood-soaked soil and took a 'sankalp' (vow) that my government will track these terrorists, even from 'paataal' (netherworld), and punish them. I remained silent for so many years because the hearing on the Ahmedabad blasts case was going on. Today, when the court has given them the punishment, I am raising the subject before the country... Today, I am referring to this, because some political parties have become kind on the terrorists..." -PM Narendra Modi, in 2022 at an election rally a few days after 49 people were convicted in the Ahmedabad serial blasts case.
