Modi, 68, seeks a second term in India, Young people voted for Modi in droves in 2014 after he said he would create 10 million jobs a year. Many, however, have been left disappointed ─ and jobless. A newspaper recently published what it called an official report buried by Modi’s government showing unemployment at its highest since the 1970s.
The opposition has used unemployment as one of its main lines of attack in the campaign, with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi attacking Modi for creating a “national disaster”.
In 2014, Modi projected himself as an anti-corruption crusader who would eradicate graft and so-called “black money”. While Modi has been widely credited with ending a culture of crony capitalism throughout government his overall record on corruption is mixed.
There is no middle ground between admirers and adversaries of the man — now running for a second term — who helped his father run a railway station tea stall before launching his career in nationalist politics.
Narendra Damodardas Modi is said to have joined the Hindu hardline Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) nationalist group at the age of eight and left home as a teenager, abandoning a marriage arranged by his family, to become an RSS activist.
An assiduously hard worker, Modi rose through the ranks of the RSS and its partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to become chief minister of his Gujarat home state in 2001. After a train carrying Hindu pilgrims caught fire killing about 60 people in 2002, riots broke out that left at least 1,000 people, mainly Muslims, dead. Modi was accused of complicity in stirring up the riots.
Sometimes Modi’s comments come back to haunt him while campaigning in 2014 he claimed to have a 56-inch muscle man’s chest to make tough decisions. His opponents and comedians still mock him as “Mr 56 inch”.
Many in India believe that the young follow him because of his story, ‘If he made it, then so can you’. He has the Nehruvian touch.” “Normally there is a strong anti-incumbency side to Indian politics, but there is no sign that people are withdrawing from him.”
However, freedom of speech has diminished in Indian society, largely the minorities. The Modi trolls are unchained. Mere optics and acoustics does not mean success. Job growth, rule of law are absolutely essential.
By the way, Indians are all waiting for Modi to release the names of all those who have secret Swiss accounts. He had promised to publish them within a month of being elected. How about the Rafael deal. Why not publish the details?
Until every Indian, irrespective of being a Dalit, Muslim or Christian or a secular person is free and fearless in exercising his/her fundamental right of speech, the decidedly modest economic gains Modi has achieved means nothing.
Talking of minorities, Modi is face of whatever oppression is taking place in Indian occupied Kashmir. Evan after 70 years of occupation by brutal Indian forces has not changed their opinion and resolve for independence. Last time when Modi visited IOK amidst protests, it was a visit held under a curfew like situation. Why did Modi have to face this shame if he is a national leader?
Modi’s visit and the measures taken to crush dissent and protest is more proof that Kashmir is an “Occupied Territory” – not part of a so-called Democracy. Modi has let loose a reign of terror, with massive torture / killings in Kashmir. Why has he denied the world press for independent assessment, just as it denied Amnesty International, even the US Congressional Human Rights Committee to visit Kashmir?
India can clearly see that the Kashmiri youth are getting radicalized and is taking their fight to the State. It is in India’s and the region interest to resolve the conflict before it is too late.
Moreover, the markets are happy that the same government with Modi at the helm may come back and there is no political uncertainty. The BJP and Modi are seen as pro-business and pro-reform. The 68-year-old leader went to scores of rallies across the country to fire up his Hindu base and turn the campaign into a debate on national security following the Balakot airstrikes.
Finally, the multi-act, multi-stage, multi-phase, multi-tier, multi-color and multi-dimensional pre-planned Indian election drama staged once again to deceive the world has come to an end and now the result is awaited. It will be interesting to see if Modi comes into power, how he will deal with economy, opposition, and minorities in India, Kashmir and Pakistan.
