Modification on India
One fears that India will once again spiral into communal violence as this would benefit some ahead of the elections.
The writer is Editor of The Express Tribune
As India progresses in leaps and bounds, one area of concern that has emerged is the possibility that Narendra Modi may be the country’s next prime minister. This may be good or bad, depending on who you talk to in Delhi.
While we remember Modi as the man who was chief minister of Gujarat state when anti-Muslim riots left 1,000 dead, some in India today see him as “Mr Fix-it.”
Given the myriad of problems that afflict the country, there are many who argue that the country’s biggest dilemma is the seeming lack of political will and determination to set things right. Modi for them seems a God-sent.
There are high expectations from Modi and the BJP, the party many say will come into power in the first half of 2014, when general elections are most likely to be held.
The reaction to the possibility is telling. In some circles I visited during my stay in Delhi, heated debates ensued at the mention of the man. But at other places like Jamia-Millia, I was met with stony silence when I brought up this possibility.
There are some who seem to be in love with dictators, and India is no exception. For example, I sometimes feel there may be more supporters for General Pervez Musharraf in India than possibly in Pakistan because of his “don’t-care-about-the-consequences” style of governance. This can-do attitude that some in India love comes possibly from their frustration with the manner in which their current set of leaders operate.
Has India been in capable hands in the past decade under Congress? To an outsider it seems so. The present crop of leaders have ruled by consensus. But this somehow doesn’t seem in fashion any more. It seems time has come for change.
The great hope of the last elections, Rahul Gandhi, seems a non-starter. While we in Pakistan seem to be inspired by his upbringing and approach, young India seems to have written him off. This is the same India that was inspired by a 40-year-old-man in the ‘80s and still mourns his loss.
But who will govern? The more optimistic in Delhi suggest that the Congress party may return with a motley coalition in place. Should that happen, many fear that it will be more of the same as far as governance is concerned. The Congress is blamed for corruption and a sluggish economy. The possibility continues to be highlighted by political opponents, led by the BJP, which also accuse the Congress of being too soft on Pakistan.
But are Indians ready to have Modi as their PM? The Gujarat riots were ably portrayed in the movie “Parzania”, which readers would do well to see to better understand the extent of what happened in that state in 2002. Till then, we knew Gujarat as the home of Mahatma Gandhi.
Now things are heating up. Already we have seen a rise in the BJP’s popularity with the naming of Modi as the party’s prime ministerial candidate. The Gujarat CM, who employs the same PR firm that is retained by the state of Israel for its image building, is credited with helping Gujarat’s economy achieve average yearly growth in the double digits over the past decade. He is popular among many wealthy businessmen.
Pundits predict a hung parliament next year. Both parties would need regional parties as coalition partners given that predictions suggest that neither would have enough numbers to form a government of their own. This is our assumption.
Some quarters may also be possibly working on another agenda, as witnessed in the Muzaffarnagar in September where 50 died. These were the worst communal riots in India in the past decade and many say their timing was significant. There are accusations that social re-engineering is taking place in some parts of the country where there is a sizeable religious minority in place.
It is no coincidence that the riots took place in UP, the state which contributes the most seats to parliament and where the BJP is expected to register gains. More tensions are expected in both UP and Bihar, say some.
One fears that after achieving so much, India will once again spiral into communal violence as this would be beneficial to some ahead of the 2014 elections. Should that happen, the gains made by the country in the past years may be lost. Perhaps forever.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2013.
While we remember Modi as the man who was chief minister of Gujarat state when anti-Muslim riots left 1,000 dead, some in India today see him as “Mr Fix-it.”
Given the myriad of problems that afflict the country, there are many who argue that the country’s biggest dilemma is the seeming lack of political will and determination to set things right. Modi for them seems a God-sent.
There are high expectations from Modi and the BJP, the party many say will come into power in the first half of 2014, when general elections are most likely to be held.
The reaction to the possibility is telling. In some circles I visited during my stay in Delhi, heated debates ensued at the mention of the man. But at other places like Jamia-Millia, I was met with stony silence when I brought up this possibility.
There are some who seem to be in love with dictators, and India is no exception. For example, I sometimes feel there may be more supporters for General Pervez Musharraf in India than possibly in Pakistan because of his “don’t-care-about-the-consequences” style of governance. This can-do attitude that some in India love comes possibly from their frustration with the manner in which their current set of leaders operate.
Has India been in capable hands in the past decade under Congress? To an outsider it seems so. The present crop of leaders have ruled by consensus. But this somehow doesn’t seem in fashion any more. It seems time has come for change.
The great hope of the last elections, Rahul Gandhi, seems a non-starter. While we in Pakistan seem to be inspired by his upbringing and approach, young India seems to have written him off. This is the same India that was inspired by a 40-year-old-man in the ‘80s and still mourns his loss.
But who will govern? The more optimistic in Delhi suggest that the Congress party may return with a motley coalition in place. Should that happen, many fear that it will be more of the same as far as governance is concerned. The Congress is blamed for corruption and a sluggish economy. The possibility continues to be highlighted by political opponents, led by the BJP, which also accuse the Congress of being too soft on Pakistan.
But are Indians ready to have Modi as their PM? The Gujarat riots were ably portrayed in the movie “Parzania”, which readers would do well to see to better understand the extent of what happened in that state in 2002. Till then, we knew Gujarat as the home of Mahatma Gandhi.
Now things are heating up. Already we have seen a rise in the BJP’s popularity with the naming of Modi as the party’s prime ministerial candidate. The Gujarat CM, who employs the same PR firm that is retained by the state of Israel for its image building, is credited with helping Gujarat’s economy achieve average yearly growth in the double digits over the past decade. He is popular among many wealthy businessmen.
Pundits predict a hung parliament next year. Both parties would need regional parties as coalition partners given that predictions suggest that neither would have enough numbers to form a government of their own. This is our assumption.
Some quarters may also be possibly working on another agenda, as witnessed in the Muzaffarnagar in September where 50 died. These were the worst communal riots in India in the past decade and many say their timing was significant. There are accusations that social re-engineering is taking place in some parts of the country where there is a sizeable religious minority in place.
It is no coincidence that the riots took place in UP, the state which contributes the most seats to parliament and where the BJP is expected to register gains. More tensions are expected in both UP and Bihar, say some.
One fears that after achieving so much, India will once again spiral into communal violence as this would be beneficial to some ahead of the 2014 elections. Should that happen, the gains made by the country in the past years may be lost. Perhaps forever.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2013.