India's main opposition candidate for the prime ministerial position Narendra Modi is seeking votes of the minorities in the national elections early next year. The Gujarat chief minister, known for his anti-Muslim stance, has said that it is the Hindu-Muslim united efforts that could take India to desired prosperity.
Modi has kicked off his campaign for the next general elections, scheduled to be held by May 2014, targeting Nehru-Gandhi political family, particularly, Rahul Gandhi. The popular but divisive leader, describes Rahul Gandhi, who is widely believed to be next prime ministerial candidate for the ruling Congress-led UPA alliance, as "Shahzada" (Prince). He says members of a family were becoming head of government of India one after another while many people hardly can reach that position despite their long sacrifice and political wisdom. Obviously, Modi referred to the Nehru-Gandhi traditional political family that has given India several heads of government.
The 63-year-old Gujarat chief minister has been criss-crossing the vast country ahead of the polls to garner support. He told a public meeting in Jammu in the Kashmir region that the Muslims and the Hindus must remain united to take India to the height of glory and progress. It may be mentioned that the Jammu and Kashmir is the only Muslim-majority state of India.
But Modi, seen as a radical Hindu nationalist, is also seeking to keep his Hindu vote bank intact and this was clear from his address in the temple-town Varanasi, where he spoke of establishing "Ram Rajya" if voted to power. He said such a "Rajya" (empire) would be free from injustices and wrong-doings, which would serve the interests of the common people. His supporters likened him to Hindu Lord "Shiva" as they chanted slogans "har har Mahadev (Shiva) - har har Modi".
Modi told another rally in the northern Bihar state that he knew Rahul and the Congress were "upset" by his description of Rahul as "Shazada" and added that it is a "reality". Why should members from a particular family must become prime minister in a country of more than 1.20 billion people? Modi asked and said he would stop calling Rahul "Shahzada" if the Congress and ruling circles bring about an end to the dynastic rule.
Modi, the polarising figure in Indian politics, especially among the minority, sought to allay fears about his attitude towards the Muslims while addressing a meeting in New Delhi when he poured scorn on "secularism" and said he believed all religious people should practise and propagate their own faiths in a greater way." We all must be serious about their respective religions," said Modi.
Is Narendra Modi is inching towards adorning the most powerful office in his country? This is the most talked-about issue in India and beyond at the present moment. The matter has assumed particular significance in the view of the fact that the national elections are nearing fast. As Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) named Modi as its prime ministerial nominee, the ruling Congress is yet to announce its nominee for that position even though Rahul Gandhi is widely seen as its candidate.
Modi is a much talked-about politician in India for his extra-ordinary records in both directions - positive and negative. The chief minister of the industrially advanced western Gujarat state is credited by his party for his ability of being at the helm of the state for three consecutive terms. This is a unique feat and is also matchless in the BJP and as such, it is no wonder that he is rated very high by his organisation.
But he is not above controversy in his own party as several party stalwarts were not in favour of his candidacy for the top post, but they later reconciled. Modi cuts in both ways as he is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, he is now the most successful chief minister of the country, who brings back his BJP party to power in succession despite the organisation not being much comfortable politically. On the other, he is strongly criticised - even hated by the secular and progressive forces which consider him as a rabidly communal person. He refuses to be seen as communal, but makes no bones of the fact that he is a proud nationalist Hindu. He, along with the hardcore politicians in the BJP, has advanced the causes of Hinduism to an extent that they are credited by their religious "Gurus" for revival of Hindu nationalism in India.
Modi is disliked by his political opponents for his failure of protect the minorities in his Gujarat state in the midst of the worst communal violence in 2002 when more than 2,000 people - mostly Muslims - were brutally killed. As the chief minister of the state, he is even accused by some sections as indirectly assisting the carnage of the Muslims. His image so has been tainted so much that the chief minister of an important Indian state is not given visa by the United States and some other nations. However, Modi is unruffled and says he did nothing wrong.
His denial notwithstanding, a strong impression exists in many quarters that Modi might have been behind the killings of the minority Muslims. Modi has further infuriated his critics recently by his comment that he is a born Hindu and is proud of being a religious nationalist. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh immediately slammed the remark, saying the tendency to divide India on religious lines is totally reprehensible. All citizens of the country need to be proud as "Indians", he said.
Earlier, a controversy had broken out within the BJP itself when Modi was given an key assignment in view of the coming national elections and senior party leader and former BJP president L.K.Advani quit all positions in the party protesting the decision. He was later persuaded by the party men to withdraw the decision. The development also affected the BJP-led opposition NDA alliance when one of its key partners - the Janata Dal (U), led by Sharad Yadav and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, parted ways with the BJP, charging that persons with "communal" image can not be highlighted.
More recently, the Paschimbanga chief minister Mamata Baneerjee has made it clear that whatever be her form of alliance with other parties in the coming national polls, one thing is certain and that is no links in promoting Modi as prime minister.
The odds may be against him. But it is also true that Narendra Modi appears to be the only person who could guide the BJP again to the zenith of power. He is efficient and honest, and steered Gujarat for successive three terms to the path of development. Of late, Modi is also keen in shedding in his communal image when he says that he is for all religions. But it is also true that he wants to thrive on Hindu nationalism which had in fact once helped the BJP come to the centre stage of Indian politics. Nonetheless, the party later developed differences between the liberals and the hard cores on the religious issue with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani, also a former deputy prime minister, siding with the liberals.
The moderates feel Modi can be good for a state, but not for multi-racial and multi-religious vast India, which needs leaders with impeccable image. But the hardliners insist that Modi is the right person to confront the ruling Congress and other political opponents in the next balloting.
In any case, Modi is now the opposition nominee for the prime ministerial job and he confronts Rahul or any other aspirant from the ruling circles. 81-year-old prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is unlikely to continue even if his Congress Party and allies win the next polls. But the chance of retaining power seems quite tough for the ruling Congress-led UPA alliance.
zaglulbss@yahoo.com
Modi has kicked off his campaign for the next general elections, scheduled to be held by May 2014, targeting Nehru-Gandhi political family, particularly, Rahul Gandhi. The popular but divisive leader, describes Rahul Gandhi, who is widely believed to be next prime ministerial candidate for the ruling Congress-led UPA alliance, as "Shahzada" (Prince). He says members of a family were becoming head of government of India one after another while many people hardly can reach that position despite their long sacrifice and political wisdom. Obviously, Modi referred to the Nehru-Gandhi traditional political family that has given India several heads of government.
The 63-year-old Gujarat chief minister has been criss-crossing the vast country ahead of the polls to garner support. He told a public meeting in Jammu in the Kashmir region that the Muslims and the Hindus must remain united to take India to the height of glory and progress. It may be mentioned that the Jammu and Kashmir is the only Muslim-majority state of India.
But Modi, seen as a radical Hindu nationalist, is also seeking to keep his Hindu vote bank intact and this was clear from his address in the temple-town Varanasi, where he spoke of establishing "Ram Rajya" if voted to power. He said such a "Rajya" (empire) would be free from injustices and wrong-doings, which would serve the interests of the common people. His supporters likened him to Hindu Lord "Shiva" as they chanted slogans "har har Mahadev (Shiva) - har har Modi".
Modi told another rally in the northern Bihar state that he knew Rahul and the Congress were "upset" by his description of Rahul as "Shazada" and added that it is a "reality". Why should members from a particular family must become prime minister in a country of more than 1.20 billion people? Modi asked and said he would stop calling Rahul "Shahzada" if the Congress and ruling circles bring about an end to the dynastic rule.
Modi, the polarising figure in Indian politics, especially among the minority, sought to allay fears about his attitude towards the Muslims while addressing a meeting in New Delhi when he poured scorn on "secularism" and said he believed all religious people should practise and propagate their own faiths in a greater way." We all must be serious about their respective religions," said Modi.
Is Narendra Modi is inching towards adorning the most powerful office in his country? This is the most talked-about issue in India and beyond at the present moment. The matter has assumed particular significance in the view of the fact that the national elections are nearing fast. As Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) named Modi as its prime ministerial nominee, the ruling Congress is yet to announce its nominee for that position even though Rahul Gandhi is widely seen as its candidate.
Modi is a much talked-about politician in India for his extra-ordinary records in both directions - positive and negative. The chief minister of the industrially advanced western Gujarat state is credited by his party for his ability of being at the helm of the state for three consecutive terms. This is a unique feat and is also matchless in the BJP and as such, it is no wonder that he is rated very high by his organisation.
But he is not above controversy in his own party as several party stalwarts were not in favour of his candidacy for the top post, but they later reconciled. Modi cuts in both ways as he is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, he is now the most successful chief minister of the country, who brings back his BJP party to power in succession despite the organisation not being much comfortable politically. On the other, he is strongly criticised - even hated by the secular and progressive forces which consider him as a rabidly communal person. He refuses to be seen as communal, but makes no bones of the fact that he is a proud nationalist Hindu. He, along with the hardcore politicians in the BJP, has advanced the causes of Hinduism to an extent that they are credited by their religious "Gurus" for revival of Hindu nationalism in India.
Modi is disliked by his political opponents for his failure of protect the minorities in his Gujarat state in the midst of the worst communal violence in 2002 when more than 2,000 people - mostly Muslims - were brutally killed. As the chief minister of the state, he is even accused by some sections as indirectly assisting the carnage of the Muslims. His image so has been tainted so much that the chief minister of an important Indian state is not given visa by the United States and some other nations. However, Modi is unruffled and says he did nothing wrong.
His denial notwithstanding, a strong impression exists in many quarters that Modi might have been behind the killings of the minority Muslims. Modi has further infuriated his critics recently by his comment that he is a born Hindu and is proud of being a religious nationalist. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh immediately slammed the remark, saying the tendency to divide India on religious lines is totally reprehensible. All citizens of the country need to be proud as "Indians", he said.
Earlier, a controversy had broken out within the BJP itself when Modi was given an key assignment in view of the coming national elections and senior party leader and former BJP president L.K.Advani quit all positions in the party protesting the decision. He was later persuaded by the party men to withdraw the decision. The development also affected the BJP-led opposition NDA alliance when one of its key partners - the Janata Dal (U), led by Sharad Yadav and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, parted ways with the BJP, charging that persons with "communal" image can not be highlighted.
More recently, the Paschimbanga chief minister Mamata Baneerjee has made it clear that whatever be her form of alliance with other parties in the coming national polls, one thing is certain and that is no links in promoting Modi as prime minister.
The odds may be against him. But it is also true that Narendra Modi appears to be the only person who could guide the BJP again to the zenith of power. He is efficient and honest, and steered Gujarat for successive three terms to the path of development. Of late, Modi is also keen in shedding in his communal image when he says that he is for all religions. But it is also true that he wants to thrive on Hindu nationalism which had in fact once helped the BJP come to the centre stage of Indian politics. Nonetheless, the party later developed differences between the liberals and the hard cores on the religious issue with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani, also a former deputy prime minister, siding with the liberals.
The moderates feel Modi can be good for a state, but not for multi-racial and multi-religious vast India, which needs leaders with impeccable image. But the hardliners insist that Modi is the right person to confront the ruling Congress and other political opponents in the next balloting.
In any case, Modi is now the opposition nominee for the prime ministerial job and he confronts Rahul or any other aspirant from the ruling circles. 81-year-old prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is unlikely to continue even if his Congress Party and allies win the next polls. But the chance of retaining power seems quite tough for the ruling Congress-led UPA alliance.
zaglulbss@yahoo.com