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Revision as of 12:27, 26 January 2006 by 59.92.131.62 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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
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External links
- Profile by Narendramodi.org
- Profile by GujaratIndia.com
- " Modi Stronger after Poll win in Oct/Nov 2005" - article dated October 30 2005