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| '''Narendra Damodardas Modi''' (born ], ], ], ]) is the ] of the state of | |||
| {{totallydisputed}} | |||
| Gujarat in ] since ], ]. | |||
| Modi is one of the most polarizing figures in Indian politics today - a forceful, |
Modi is one of the most polarizing figures in Indian politics today - a forceful, Hindutva leader of principles to his admirers, and a ] ] to his communist and Islamic fundamentalist opponents. | ||
| ==Early Life and Political Career== | ==Early Life and Political Career== | ||
| He was born in ], a town in the northern ] district of ]. As a young man, he | He was born in ], a town in the northern ] district of ]. As a young man, he joined the [[Rashtriya | ||
| Swayamsevak Sangh]], a major public organization committed to ] and a conservative and staunchly patriotic social and political outlook. Modi rose as a young prodigy within the RSS ranks. | |||
| the RSS ranks. | |||
| ⚫ | Narendra Modi served as ''Pracharak'', or a high-level regional organizer of the ]. Joining the ] in the mid-1980s, Modi worked to organize election campaigns in many states. | ||
| ⚫ | Narendra Modi served as ''Pracharak'', or a high-level regional organizer of the RSS. Joining the ] in the mid-1980s, Modi worked to organize election campaigns in many states. | ||
| ===Rise in Gujarat=== | ===Rise in Gujarat=== | ||
| Together with ], the leader of the ], he masterminded the political takeover of ] by the BJP in the mid-1990s |
Together with ], the leader of the ], he masterminded the political takeover of ] by the BJP in the mid-1990s, by building an agenda and political strategy sensitive to cultural ] and pro-business economic policies, as well as building on a core discontent with the ]. He held the important office of BJP General Secretary twice. | ||
| He became Gujarat's Chief Minister in 2001, when his predecessor ] resigned from office following the loss of 2 Assembly and 1 ] by-elections, which was considered as a warning for the flagging popularity of the BJP administrations | |||
| in ] and ]. | |||
| Modi's first months in office were focused on party efforts to get him officially elected to the state assembly within the six-month constitutional deadline for a non-elected person holding power. As a politician, his charisma helped him to build a mass base, both within the BJP and the public. He became especially well-supported in the state's urban areas, due to his push for rapid industrialization, urbanization and investment, policies welcomed in the traditional economic power. | |||
| ==Gujarat Riots of 2002== | ==Gujarat Riots of 2002== | ||
| {{main|2002 Gujarat violence}} | {{main|2002 Gujarat violence}} | ||
| After a Muslim mob set a train on fire in the town of ] killing 59 passengers all of whom were hindu pilgrims returning from a temple-town, violence between Hindus and Muslims broke out in Gujarat. Official estimates state that 259 Hindus and 790 Muslims were killed , with 200 more missing. | |||
| India's English language media -- largely anti-Modi, anti-BJP and accused by its critics as being pro-Communist and pro-Congress -- alleged that Modi defended the violence as a "natural reaction" to the Godhra massacre. However, Modi has repeatedly denied the allegations. No taped conversation of his exists proving that he termed the violence as a "natural reaction" to Godhra. However, the media persists in its allegations, without substantiating them with any evidence. That Modi has stressed to blame ] for causing the conflagration in the first place has not gone down well with the media either, just as the fact that Islamic fundamentalists caused 9/11 has not gone down well with a section of Europe's leftwing media. | |||
| Subsequent reports from several independent human rights organisations have indicted Mr. Modi, claiming that he and his ministers instructed Gujarat's police officers not to obstruct the mobs. India's own National Human Rights Commission chastised the government pointing to "a comprehensive failure on the part of the State Government of Gujarat to control persistent violations of rights". These claims have been completely denied by Mr. Modi. The BJP and its supporters have attacked these reports as being politically motivated. | |||
| ===Criticism of Modi and the BJP=== | |||
| Some human rights organisations have claimed that Mr. Modi his ministers instructed Gujarat's police officers not to obstruct the mobs. These reports carry little credibility with Modi's political and lay supporters, none of whom were allowed to depose at the extra-judicial "hearings" of some of the human rights groups. Some ministers and MLAs were accused even of organizing attacks themselves. India's own ] accused the government of "a comprehensive failure to control persistent violations of rights". Howver, an inquiry committe speically constituted to investigate the riots is yet to come out with its findings. | |||
| ===Praise for Modi's leadership=== | |||
| Modi and his numerous admirers have attacked these reports as being politically motivated. Leaders of the ] and ] praised Modi for standing up to a blitzkreig of propaganda from the Communists, while bringing attention to what they view as the real problem - rising ] and ] in India. | |||
| ==Elections in 2002 and 2004== | ==Elections in 2002 and 2004== | ||
| Following the riots, Modi dissolved the state assembly in order to hold fresh elections. Narendra Modi campaigned intensely, conducting a state-wide ''Gaurav Yatra'' (''Journey of Pride'') that sought to invoke Gujarati pride. He won a massive mandate, winning 126 out of the 182 assembly seats. | Following the riots, Modi dissolved the state assembly in order to hold fresh elections. Narendra Modi campaigned intensely, conducting a state-wide ''Gaurav Yatra'' (''Journey of Pride'') that sought to invoke Gujarati pride. He won a massive mandate, winning 126 out of the 182 assembly seats, giving him a comprehensive political victory, a vindication to his supporters. | ||
| ==Political Future== | ==Political Future== | ||
| Narendra Modi continues to be extremely popular in Gujarat. Gujarat has indeed made major gains under his stweardship, clocking an | |||
| impressive 15% economic growth rate per annum. The state has also won three international awards from its achievements. In late 2005, Modi's party has overwhelmingly won several local elections, despite consistent bad press from a largely-leftwing English langauge media. Even Muslim-dominated neighborhoods voted for Modi. The biggest surprise was that in riot-hit ], a group of independent Muslim councillors decided to extend support to the BJP in the city's municipal corporation, to provide a model for communal harmony. | |||
| As an administrator, Modi is regarded as a pro-reform, pro-business leader because of his policies which include lowering taxes. He has promoted business and industry, tax reform and cultivated a strong base of support from business sectors. | As an administrator, Modi is regarded as a pro-reform, pro-business leader because of his pro-business policies which include lowering taxes. He has promoted business and industry, tax reform and cultivated a strong base of support from business sectors, while projecting Gujarat as the most progressive and industrialized state in India. | ||
| ==Gujarat textbook controversy== | |||
| In September 2004, Modi came under fire, when the textbooks in Gujarat, the state that he was is the Chief Minister of, presented, what is considered by critics to be a "frighteningly uncritical picture of Fascism and Nazism".The Class X Social Studies textbook of Gujarat had chapters on 'Hitler, the Supremo' and 'Internal Achievements of Nazism'. The strong national pride that both these phenomena generated, the efficiency in the bureaucracy and the administration and other 'achievements' were detailed, but pogroms against Jews and atrocities against trade unionists, migrant labourers, and any section of people who did not fit into Mussolini or Hitler's definition of rightful citizen did not find any mention. "They committed the gruesome and inhuman act of suffocating 60 lakh Jews in gas chambers" was all the book, authored by a panel, mentioned of the holocaust. | |||
| The section on 'Ideology of Nazism' read : "Hitler lent dignity and prestige to the German government within a short time by establishing a strong administrative set up. He created the vast state of Greater Germany. He adopted the policy of opposition towards the Jewish people and advocated the supremacy of the German race. He adopted a new economic policy and brought prosperity to Germany. | |||
| He began efforts for the eradication of unemployment. He started constructing public buildings, providing irrigation facilities, building railways, roads and production of war materials. He made untiring efforts to make Germany self-reliant within one decade. Hitler discarded the Treaty of Versailles by calling it just 'a piece of paper' and stopped paying the war penalty. He instilled the spirit of adventure in the common people" () | |||
| In March 2005, John Conyers Jr, a Democrat Congressman from Michigan, moved a resolution against Modi stating, "The US State Department has discussed the role of Modi and his government in promoting attitudes of racial supremacy, racial hatred, and the legacy of Nazism through his government's support of school textbooks in which Nazism is glorified." () | |||
| However,despite the controversy he has still maintained his popularity in Gujarat, which was proved in the elections Oct/Nov 2005 held for 209 Taluka Panchayats in Gujarat, BJP(his party) has won 136 while Congress won 70 Panchayats. Also his party(BJP) won Ahmedabad Muncipal Corporation election with majority and now rules Ahmedaba | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *], ] | **], ] | ||
| *], ], ] | **], ], ] | ||
| -- | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * by Narendramodi.org | * by Narendramodi.org | ||
| * by GujaratIndia.com | * by GujaratIndia.com | ||
| * - article dated October 30 2005 | * - article dated October 30 2005 | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 12:27, 26 January 2006
Narendra Damodardas Modi (born September 17, 1950, Gujarat, India) is the Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat in India since October 7, 2001.
Modi is one of the most polarizing figures in Indian politics today - a forceful, Hindutva leader of principles to his admirers, and a fascist demagogue to his communist and Islamic fundamentalist opponents.
Early Life and Political Career
He was born in Vadnagar, a town in the northern Mehsana district of Gujarat. As a young man, he joined the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]], a major public organization committed to Hindu Nationalism and a conservative and staunchly patriotic social and political outlook. Modi rose as a young prodigy within the RSS ranks.
Narendra Modi served as Pracharak, or a high-level regional organizer of the RSS. Joining the BJP in the mid-1980s, Modi worked to organize election campaigns in many states.
Rise in Gujarat
Together with Praveen Togadia, the leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, he masterminded the political takeover of Gujarat by the BJP in the mid-1990s, by building an agenda and political strategy sensitive to cultural nationalism and pro-business economic policies, as well as building on a core discontent with the Indian National Congress. He held the important office of BJP General Secretary twice.
He became Gujarat's Chief Minister in 2001, when his predecessor Keshubhai Patel resigned from office following the loss of 2 Assembly and 1 Lok Sabha by-elections, which was considered as a warning for the flagging popularity of the BJP administrations in Delhi and Gujarat.
Modi's first months in office were focused on party efforts to get him officially elected to the state assembly within the six-month constitutional deadline for a non-elected person holding power. As a politician, his charisma helped him to build a mass base, both within the BJP and the public. He became especially well-supported in the state's urban areas, due to his push for rapid industrialization, urbanization and investment, policies welcomed in the traditional economic power.
Gujarat Riots of 2002
Main article: 2002 Gujarat violenceAfter a Muslim mob set a train on fire in the town of Godhra killing 59 passengers all of whom were hindu pilgrims returning from a temple-town, violence between Hindus and Muslims broke out in Gujarat. Official estimates state that 259 Hindus and 790 Muslims were killed , with 200 more missing.
India's English language media -- largely anti-Modi, anti-BJP and accused by its critics as being pro-Communist and pro-Congress -- alleged that Modi defended the violence as a "natural reaction" to the Godhra massacre. However, Modi has repeatedly denied the allegations. No taped conversation of his exists proving that he termed the violence as a "natural reaction" to Godhra. However, the media persists in its allegations, without substantiating them with any evidence. That Modi has stressed to blame Islamic fundamentalism for causing the conflagration in the first place has not gone down well with the media either, just as the fact that Islamic fundamentalists caused 9/11 has not gone down well with a section of Europe's leftwing media.
Criticism of Modi and the BJP
Some human rights organisations have claimed that Mr. Modi his ministers instructed Gujarat's police officers not to obstruct the mobs. These reports carry little credibility with Modi's political and lay supporters, none of whom were allowed to depose at the extra-judicial "hearings" of some of the human rights groups. Some ministers and MLAs were accused even of organizing attacks themselves. India's own National Human Rights Commission accused the government of "a comprehensive failure to control persistent violations of rights". Howver, an inquiry committe speically constituted to investigate the riots is yet to come out with its findings.
Praise for Modi's leadership
Modi and his numerous admirers have attacked these reports as being politically motivated. Leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh praised Modi for standing up to a blitzkreig of propaganda from the Communists, while bringing attention to what they view as the real problem - rising Islamic fundamentalism and Islamic terrorism in India.
Elections in 2002 and 2004
Following the riots, Modi dissolved the state assembly in order to hold fresh elections. Narendra Modi campaigned intensely, conducting a state-wide Gaurav Yatra (Journey of Pride) that sought to invoke Gujarati pride. He won a massive mandate, winning 126 out of the 182 assembly seats, giving him a comprehensive political victory, a vindication to his supporters.
Political Future
Narendra Modi continues to be extremely popular in Gujarat. Gujarat has indeed made major gains under his stweardship, clocking an impressive 15% economic growth rate per annum. The state has also won three international awards from its achievements. In late 2005, Modi's party has overwhelmingly won several local elections, despite consistent bad press from a largely-leftwing English langauge media. Even Muslim-dominated neighborhoods voted for Modi. The biggest surprise was that in riot-hit Godhra, a group of independent Muslim councillors decided to extend support to the BJP in the city's municipal corporation, to provide a model for communal harmony.
As an administrator, Modi is regarded as a pro-reform, pro-business leader because of his pro-business policies which include lowering taxes. He has promoted business and industry, tax reform and cultivated a strong base of support from business sectors, while projecting Gujarat as the most progressive and industrialized state in India.
See also
--
External links
- Profile by Narendramodi.org
- Profile by GujaratIndia.com
- " Modi Stronger after Poll win in Oct/Nov 2005" - article dated October 30 2005