Dramatic Win for an Indian Leader barred by the USA

A grey-bearded, bespectacled, fiery orator ‘who has come close to becoming the rock star of right-wing politics in India’, Narendra Modi has won a dramatic victory in a regional election in India’s Western state of Gujarat. Modi was barred from entering America in March 2005 when his visa was revoked by the US administration for “violations of religious freedom” despite his party (Bharatiya Janata Party) being known to promote closer ties with Washington.

Narendra Modi won a third term in office as Chief Minister on Sunday in the Hindu-majority Gujarat which is one of India’s richest and fastest growing states…but also one of its most communally divided.

“His (Modi’s) supporters have little doubt that he is the true saviour of millions of Hindus, while his critics accuse him of being responsible for the slaughter of hundreds, possibly thousands, of minority Muslims,” reports Rupam Jain Nair of the Reuters. “He is either adored or abhorred, held in awe or shunned as a pariah. But whichever way he is treated, Modi, 57, has ensured he is one politician India cannot ignore.

“Modi is a hate figure for Muslims and millions of secular Hindus across the country. He stands accused of turning a blind eye, and even encouraging, the killing of 1,200 to 2,500 people, most of them Muslims, in communal riots in the state in 2002.

“The Supreme Court compared him to Roman Emperor Nero, remembered in legend as playing his lyre while Rome burned, and Washington denied him a visa for severe violations of religious freedom…”

India’s leading newspaper The Hindustan Times reports: “The stunning victory of pro-industry Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi drew cheers from the business community, which said a change in government could have caused uncertainty for investments.

“Modi’s enthusiastic support to the community was criticised by the (opposition) Congress, whose leaders said he claimed to represent 5.5 crore Gujaratis but only cared for five crorepatis (billionaires), a reference to several major industrial houses that have endorsed Modi’s business-friendly policies.”

Gujaratis celebrate Modi victory in the USA…please click here for more. “Gujaratis are the single-largest component of the (Asian-American) community and generally rated the wealthiest. They are key players in three prominent groupings: the hotel owners represented by the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, the medical doctors and the wealthy diamond and jewellery industry.”

(Photo above: Supporters of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) wear masks of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during celebrations at the party headquarters in Ahmedabad December 23, 2007 — courtesy REUTERS/Amit Dave)