As the title states, what are your views on Narendra Modi and the BJP? Do you think it is good that the Congress party lost?
I admire the fact that he rose up, apparently, from poverty which holds out hope of the remnants of the old caste system dissipating completely. He also does appear to be a charismatic orator and to have worked an economic miracle in his native state of Gujarat (although some argue it is a bubble waiting to burst!)...nevertheless, I have heard from some quarters that the Muslim and Christian minorities are lukewarm or suspicious towards him given that he seems to be a Hindu nationalist.
Do you think he will be good for minorities as well as the Hindu majority? Will he try to represent all of India in its colourful religious diversity?
I also heard on the BBC that because the West (the US and EU) criticized him for so long over the 2002 Gujarat Riots and his alleged participation, that he looks more towards "the East" ie Japan, South Korea and China. Is this true? I would not want India to develop poor relations with the West owing to its leader's personal distaste. Do you think that as Prime Minister he will also seek good relations with the West, especially since the Western Powers no longer hold him accountable? Was he simply unable, rather than ill disposed towards the West, to develop better relations in the past because of the 2002 crisis? Will that now change that he is Prime Minister? Also, might not the healthy Indian diaspora in Britain especially but also in the US, help bolster relations?
I admire the fact that he rose up, apparently, from poverty which holds out hope of the remnants of the old caste system dissipating completely. He also does appear to be a charismatic orator and to have worked an economic miracle in his native state of Gujarat (although some argue it is a bubble waiting to burst!)...nevertheless, I have heard from some quarters that the Muslim and Christian minorities are lukewarm or suspicious towards him given that he seems to be a Hindu nationalist.
Do you think he will be good for minorities as well as the Hindu majority? Will he try to represent all of India in its colourful religious diversity?
I also heard on the BBC that because the West (the US and EU) criticized him for so long over the 2002 Gujarat Riots and his alleged participation, that he looks more towards "the East" ie Japan, South Korea and China. Is this true? I would not want India to develop poor relations with the West owing to its leader's personal distaste. Do you think that as Prime Minister he will also seek good relations with the West, especially since the Western Powers no longer hold him accountable? Was he simply unable, rather than ill disposed towards the West, to develop better relations in the past because of the 2002 crisis? Will that now change that he is Prime Minister? Also, might not the healthy Indian diaspora in Britain especially but also in the US, help bolster relations?