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I'm probably going to sound incredibly ignorant, but who is Modi and what are his politics/policies?
I'm not really up to date on Indian politics.
I'm probably going to sound incredibly ignorant, but who is Modi and what are his politics/policies?
I'm not really up to date on Indian politics.
I don't agree with all of his policies (he doesn't seem to have a positive opinion of the LGBT community), but of all the candidates he has the people of India, and Hindus as whole in his heart.
I do not know how many times I will have to issue this clarification- Social 'issues' as they exist in the west are both politically and socially irrelevant in India, in particular the isuye of Gay 'rights'. In India one's sex life is considered extremely private. Since it is considered bad taste to discuss one's sex life in public even with one's family, the idea of 'coming out of the closet' is itself redundant.Nobody cares or wants to know.
The so-called 'issue' cropped up because a court upheld the constitutionality of an old Colonial-era law barring 'unnatural sex' of all kinds including bestiality,pedophelia and sodomy. The law itself requires a complainant as it is acts under the assimption that homosexuality is 'unnatural' and therefore cannot be consensual.Thus consensual sex is not covered under this law. The court refused to repeal the law on the grounds that doing so was the prerogative of Parliament not the courts. The only party that bothered to take a position on the verdict was the then ruling party which has now been decimated to 44 seats in a Parliament of 543.Even they made a short 5 minute statement saying they are committed to repealing the law and left it at that. It was never discussed or part of the campaign at any time.None of India's other 20-30 major parties many of which rule provinces with populations equivalent to say,Britain or France even bothered to react.Nor will a single vote change hands on the basis of this issue.
Whether the principal opposition party or its PM candidate takes a position on 'gay rights' is gloriously irrelevent to Indians and the fact that there is controversy about is a result of paradropped foreign journalists applying their own cultural standards to a culture wherecthose standards are irrelevent.
END OF RANT
Vannakkam Starry,
Don't feel ignorant at all. Those of us outside of India don't get a whole lot of news from Bharata Mata, and what does come out is very bias. Modiji was the head of Gujurat for several years. He elevated the state to the extent that they are the largest contributor to the national economy (if I'm not mistaken). He is pro Hindu and right wing. The bowing down to certain minorities at the expense of the majority will hopefully end.
He isn't without blemish though because he was in charge during the Gujurati riots during which 200 Hindus died as well as 1000 Muslims. A lot of western media focuses on this aspect but they forget about all of the terrorism done by these people and while violence isn't a great response, every story has 2 sides. Not to mention that Modiji and the local government did not insight it. The criticism is they didn't do enough.
I like Modiji and I am very hopeful that he will do wonderful things for India which will in turn do great things for the world. My only reservation is the hype around him reminds me of the hype around Obama in America. That level of hero worship is dangerous and sometimes leads to disappointment.
I am staying hopeful that Modiji will carve a bright future for India.
Aum Hari Aum!
Well there is more to it than that. George W Bush wouldn't allow Modi in America (repealed his visa or something stupid like that) so yeah we're going to get a lot of "Modi hate" on the west. I try my best to do my own research and ignore our "media".
Things might be different. Obama has an insane amount of opposition from Congress. It's hard to ANYTHING done when the opposing party shuts down everything you try to do. Lets hope he does not have these issues.
He can amend the Constitution itself within half a day if he wishes.
Vannakkam,
Of course there is more to it. One could write a dissertation on Modiji's exchanges with the US. I have little doubt that the Bush administration's refusal of Modi had to do with their insistence on appeasement of certain groups.
In terms of Obama, I don't want this to turn into a US political discussion so I'll leave it at this, you are correct the congress stood in opposition every chance they had. And still we can't blame the congress for the entirety of failures in the current administration.
In terms of Modiji and India, I hope the heartfelt devotion of the people is not misplaced and he will step beyond old political patterns and create something truly amazing. He and the BJP have so much potential and I can't wait to see what happens
Aum Hari Aum!
Agreed there are plenty of US politics threads we don't need to derail an otherwise happy moment!
As our friend above mentioned he went from low caste to here. He has seen the struggles of India from a personal and painful view. It appears that he has the heart to want to help.
Agreed
The tide is turning and it is a truly exciting moment for India and Hindus internationally. Globally it's important as the largest successful democratic election.
It will be interesting to see what he does about caste politics given his background.
Aum Hari Aum!