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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has faced bad weather – allegations from his close friend and industrialist Gautam Adani have dogged him too; And he is facing global criticism, which is reflected in a BBC documentary series on him that examines the 2002 Gujarat riots when he was chief minister. This is not the first time that serious allegations have been leveled against Mr. Modi. The Rafale defense deal, surveillance and demonetisation using Israeli Pegasus spyware created such a turmoil in Indian politics that he appeared vulnerable. In the end, it didn’t dent his popularity – at any rate, not enough to weaken his power or hold on the BJP and the government. But, yes, his critics, both in India and abroad, have been emboldened by the Hindenburg Research report on the Adani Group and the BBC documentary series. What does this mean for his political future?
Global finance czar George Soros feels, or at least hopes, that India will see a revolt against Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a result of the Hindenburg Report. Mr. Soros went public with his wish that it would outlive Mr. Modi. Soros’ outburst has just confirmed, for supporters of Mr Modi and the Indian government, what they have been saying – that there is an international conspiracy to weaken India. Union minister Smriti Irani quickly responded with a ‘I told you so’ presser. For decades, Indian politicians have told the people about foreign forces trying to destabilize the country. Partly true and largely propaganda, the symbol of a ‘foreign hand’ has always been a source of legitimacy for the Indian establishment. (Though there is nothing particularly Indian about it. The US establishment thrives on foreign threats – communism, Islamism, and now Russia and China. US Democrats go into a seizure talking about how the most advanced countries on the planet Elections in the country can be stolen by Russian bots!)
Mr. Modi’s Indian critics are broadly of two types – regionalists, who do not have much of a vision for India, and moderate Nehruvians, who have a vision for India that is slightly different from that of the BJP. While regionalists question Mr. Modi, Adani and the BBC are not their issue, nor is it something their constituencies would understand. In fact, most regionalists have their own dealings with the Adani group and are not too keen on upsetting the apple cart. The moderate Nehruvians who are at the forefront of the current campaign against Mr. Modi have no means of communicating beyond their captive audiences. There is also no meeting point between the regionalists and the Nehruvians. I have explained it in this article how the success of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s cross-country foot march, India Jodo YatraOpposition politics itself has become impasse: Varghese K. on the deadlock after the success of Bharat Jodo Yatra. Read George’s News Analysis
The Nehruvian liberals have lost control of the Indian mass media, which is now in the hands of the BJP and the government in general. (Warning – regional media largely align with regional ones.) But that’s only a small part of the problem. The real problem for Nehruvians is their inability to develop a new idiom to communicate with those who are now with the BJP. Just as American Democrats treat the religious rural poor and working class, the Indian elite deride Modi’s followers as irrational fools and unworthy of any conversation. Meanwhile Modi voters – 37% in 2019, which could win him 55% of Lok Sabha seats because of their concentration in the upper half of India – have constructed a rationality of their own. Read this report on the ongoing construction of Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya: Read Ishita Mishra’s article on how Ram Mandir is at the center of Hinduism
Based on the support of this 37% of Indian voters, Mr. Modi has built a global constituency. His home turf becomes stronger in the face of criticism, especially when the opponents are foreign. It is the politics of faith or trust, as pointed out by political scientist Nilanjan Sarkar. All criticism of Mr. Modi is labeled as anti-India, and critics are labeled as anti-national forces. When George Soros speaks out against Mr. Modi, and calls for regime change in India, his supporters get excited. Far from intimidating Mr. Modi, it strengthens him.
Globally, those who considered Mr. Modi a free-market liberal when he came to power in 2014 are now bitterly disappointed. The global capitalist class is angered by India’s economic nationalism under Mr. Modi, but they have no choice but to embrace it and smile. Which he is doing well. It was no coincidence that Indian tax authorities took action against the BBC on the same day Boeing and Airbus and Air India announced new deals. I had explained this thinking behind the Hindutva strategic doctrine in a separate article which you can see Here, Those who are interested in Indian markets will stay connected with Mr Modi.
A second category of international players also aligns with Mr Modi – the strategic community. They are also disappointed that the prime minister’s refusal to bow to the American bandwagon has given them enough hope that India’s continued friendship with Russia is a potential ally in the emerging anti-China bloc. India’s military ambitions under Mr Modi provide them with a good market and Chinese hostility towards India gives them a good argument for cooperation.
So international players – global capitalists and strategists – stuck with Mr. Modi despite their disappointments. Domestically, the challenge he faces is what really strengthens his base of support. That’s the big picture.
federalism path
Dalit among Dravidians
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi B. Velankanni Raj | Photo Credit: Velankanni Raj
Dravidian nationalism is often seen as a stepping stone, but the Dalits of Tamil Nadu have a different experience. Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, who never shies away from wearing a political cap, Dravidian politics criticized for failing to ensure social justice for Dalits, According to her, the response of law enforcement and the criminal justice system was “terrible” when it came to crimes against Dalits, and the conviction rate was only 7% in rape cases in which the victims were Scheduled Caste women.
keep hindus together
This year marks the 200th birth anniversary of Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj, which was arguably the most consequential and first organized attempt at Hindu unity. attending an event in Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Maharishi Dayanand was born in an era when false interpretations of the Vedas were being used to demean India and its traditions were being distorted as part of efforts to “crush the ideals, culture and roots” of the nation. Was. In such times, the PM said, Maharishi Dayanand came as a savior “as he dispelled the notion of any deficiency in the traditions and scriptures of India; He pointed out that their real meaning had been forgotten”.
my history vs yours
The ruling BJP’s focus on rewriting history is evident. The new research projects and textbooks are meant to reorganize the existing structure of history teaching in India. It is not the rewriting of history, but the filling of the blanks, According to Union Education Minister, “The government has no intention of rewriting history. But if you ask me, if the ICHR [Indian Council for Historical Research] With all due respect, I want to inform this House that yes, it has been taken up,” Dharmendra Pradhan told the Lok Sabha.
Left and Congress: friends here, enemies there
The Congress and the CPI(M)-led Left Front are in alliance for the Tripura assembly elections.Triangular in Tripura: The Hindu editorial on Tipra Motha factor in assembly elections – The Hindu), but in Kerala this week the two sides were fighting each other with hammer and tongs. The Left and the Congress were in coalition at the Center from 2004 to 2008, while the two were rivals in Tripura, West Bengal and Kerala. In other states like Tamil Nadu and Bihar, the Left and the Congress have been in alliance for a very long time.