Gujarat's chief minister Mr. Narendra Modi is arguably India's most controversial
politician, yet his popularity at national level is growing as the country begins to look for a new
prime minister in the 2014 general election. Modi is a rare example of a chief minister without
involvement in bribes or extortion in his 11 years career as a chief minister. Although Mr. Modi's
administration was accused of insufficient action over 2002 Gujarat riots and suspected of
encouraging them—a significant allegation, considering more than 1000 were killed—the apex
court has acquitted him from all allegations (The Indian Express, January 2012), national opinion
polls show Modi as the most popular candidate for the next prime minister of India, backed by
about a quarter of voters (The Indian Express, January 2013). He not only has a hunger for the job,
but also he is composed, well-briefed, and his eyes gleam with ambition. As his likely rivals,
notably Rahul Gandhi of the incumbent Indian National Congress (INC) party, appear lackluster
and uncertain by comparison, he is becoming an obvious choice to lead the country.
Gujarat, a western state of India with a population of more than 60 million, flourishes economically, though it lags behind much of India in terms of social indicators. Modi is committed to this state: He states he has no ambition in his life but a mission to serve the country. He humbly attributes the development of the state under his rule to the team of politicians, bureaucrats, and the people. He believes that a leader must inspire the people to bring prosperity. He articulates the progress as a result of clarity of thoughts, faith, conviction, and character to act. He is popular not only in the state of Gujarat, but also in the entire nation, and his leadership skills earned him eight The Best Chief Minister awards in last 10 years (The Economist, September 2012).
Gujarat, a western state of India with a population of more than 60 million, flourishes economically, though it lags behind much of India in terms of social indicators. Modi is committed to this state: He states he has no ambition in his life but a mission to serve the country. He humbly attributes the development of the state under his rule to the team of politicians, bureaucrats, and the people. He believes that a leader must inspire the people to bring prosperity. He articulates the progress as a result of clarity of thoughts, faith, conviction, and character to act. He is popular not only in the state of Gujarat, but also in the entire nation, and his leadership skills earned him eight The Best Chief Minister awards in last 10 years (The Economist, September 2012).
Modi was born on 17th September, 1950 in a middle-class family in Vadnagar, Mehsana, a district of what was then Bombay State, India. During the Indo-Pak war in the mid-1960s, even as a young boy, he volunteered to serve the soldiers in transit at railway stations. As a young man, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organization, and was involved in the anti-corruption "Nav Nirman" movement. After working as a full-time organizer for the party, he was nominated as its representative in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As a teenager, Modi used to run a tea stall with his brother. Modi completed his schooling in Vadnagar and earned a master’s degree in political science from Gujarat University. Modi is known for leading a frugal lifestyle: He has a personal staff of three, and he is known to be a workaholic, an introvert, and an eloquent speaker. Despite his label as a Hindu extremist by his opponents, he ordered the demolition of many illegal Hindu temples that were built without proper government sanction which earned him the ire of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) (Moneycontrol, April 2009).
Modi was a pracharak (Community Organizer) in Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS), a right wing Hindu nationalist group, during his university years. In 1995, Modi was entrusted with the responsibility of organizing two crucial national events, the Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra, a political rally through India, of L.K. Advani and a similar march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in the North. After the exit of Shankarsingh Vaghela from the BJP, Keshubhai Patel was made Chief Minister of Gujarat while Narendra Modi was sent to New Delhi as a General Secretary of the party. In 2001, Narendra Modi was chosen by the party to be the Chief Minister of Gujarat to succeed Keshubhai Patel (Moneycontrol, April 2009).
On February 27, 2002, a train burning in the town of Godhra led to 59 deaths, most of them Hindu pilgrims and religious workers returning from the holy city of Ayodhya. Local Muslim leaders have been found guilty of burning the train. Riots broke out in the state as the act was caused by Muslims in which 790 Muslims, and 254 Hindus were ultimately killed. The Modi administration was accused of insufficient action over the riots and suspected of encouraging them. However, Narendra Modi had promptly issued shoot- at-sight orders and called for the army to prevent the riots from worsening. But given the massive reaction to Godhra carnage, the combined strength of Indian army and State Police proved insufficient. The Modi administration imposed an indefinite curfew in 26 sensitive cities to ensure that riots do not spread (The Times of India, May 2005).
Years later, a sting operation by an investigative journalist showed videos of many prominent Hindu leaders and politicians boasting of their involvement in the killings and the complicity of Narenda Modi in the riots. However, several inaccuracies exist in the statements that questioned the sting operation, and Modi was acquitted from the charges by the apex court. In 2005, Narendra Modi was denied a diplomatic visa to the United States, and an already-granted B-1/B-2 visa was also revoked under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act which makes any foreign government official who was responsible or "directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom" ineligible for the visa (The Times of India, March 2005). For 10 years after the 2002 riots, the United Kingdom refused to deal with Narendra Modi, but the UK changed this policy in October 2012 (The Economist, January 2013).
As an aftermath of the riots, there were calls for Modi to resign from his position as chief minister
of Gujarat. Modi submitted his resignation, and the state Assembly was dissolved. In the resultant
elections in 2002, the BJP (led by Modi) won 127 seats in the 182-member assembly. Again in
2007, Modi won the election by winning 122 seats and continued his post as the Chief Minister of
Gujarat. In the late 2011-early 2012, Narendra Modi underwent a series of fasts as part of the
"Sadbhavna Mission" to strengthen the atmosphere of peace, unity and harmony in the state. He
observed total 36 fasts in 26 districts, 8 cities including Ahmedabad (deshgujarat.com, February
2012). Aiming at 2012 Assembly election, Modi had launched a new development program with a
focus on improving education, health care, agriculture and the environment. With the message
Gujarat is leading India’s development, and inspiring the young, he secured 115 seats in the
election retaining his chair as Chief Minister for the third time (Election Commission of India,
December 2012).
In spite of the controversies about him surrounding his government's reaction during 2002 riots, the people of Gujarat elected him three times in a row as a chief minister. His bold and innovative administration style brought progress to the state. Gujarat is the only state in which policy draft is made available to the public via internet and invites people to give their suggestions, which then will be discussed before passing it as a bill. Although Petrochemical industry is the major industry of the state, Gujarat is the fourth state in the world that has a separate climate-change department. During his first year of first term, his government took the initiative to harvest rainwater in every house for which his government got The Green Award from the World Bank in 2002. In October, Britain ended a 10-year diplomatic boycott of Mr. Modi when its high commissioner met with him for 50 minutes. As he continues to consolidate his power, more Western countries may rethink their refusal to talk with him in an official context (The Economist, January 2013).
In spite of the controversies about him surrounding his government's reaction during 2002 riots, the people of Gujarat elected him three times in a row as a chief minister. His bold and innovative administration style brought progress to the state. Gujarat is the only state in which policy draft is made available to the public via internet and invites people to give their suggestions, which then will be discussed before passing it as a bill. Although Petrochemical industry is the major industry of the state, Gujarat is the fourth state in the world that has a separate climate-change department. During his first year of first term, his government took the initiative to harvest rainwater in every house for which his government got The Green Award from the World Bank in 2002. In October, Britain ended a 10-year diplomatic boycott of Mr. Modi when its high commissioner met with him for 50 minutes. As he continues to consolidate his power, more Western countries may rethink their refusal to talk with him in an official context (The Economist, January 2013).
After being denied a visa to the United States in 2005 for his alleged role in the 2002 riots in his state, Mr. Modi has relied on a live satellite telecast to address the Gujarati community in the United States on “Gujarat Day” that is celebrated on 31st of August, every year. This past Gujarat Day, he hosted a live video chat with Indians in several countries using Google Plus Hangout (Business Line, September 2012). In October 2012, he started a news channel "NaMo Gujarat TV". During 2012 election campaign, using holographic technology and satellite link-ups, a three- dimensional image of Mr. Modi addressed tens of thousands of people at four public rallies in Ahmedabad, Baroda, Rajkot and Surat, from a studio in the state capital Gandhinagar. Mr. Modi is believed to be the first Indian politician to use 3D technology during an election campaign (The Economist, January 2013).
Clearly, Mr Modi’s political approach is working in Gujarat, but such a "seemingly" autocratic style would be difficult to apply at the national level, especially in an era of coalition governments. His critiques argue that his determination to develop the state has been impelled by his need to transform his own image since 2002. They further claim that Modi has set about doing what he can to change his appearance, from that of an anti-Muslim, Hindu-nationalist to that of a broad-based political leader, capable of delivering boom times to all. Memories of the riots may be more of a hindrance in national elections, where religious minorities represent nearly 20 percent of the population. Mr. Modi’s actions during the riots and disparagement of Muslims since then have been questioned by more moderate Hindus; indeed, some leading members of the BJP have resisted Modi’s rising prominence in part for fear that he will cost the party votes among religious minorities. Known as autocratic, he could struggle to hold together coalitions and strike compromises that are the essence of national politics. BJP factions, and rival leaders, are suspicious of him. His previous forays beyond Gujarat have not brought much reward for the party, and he is so divisive a figure that a national election could become a referendum on his character. The Indian National Congress (INC), plagued by scandal and slowing growth, would welcome that (The Economist, January 2013).
Communal violence that India witnessed in Gujarat is a thing of the past now. Memories of what happened linger and they affect the image of the Chief Minister of Gujarat personally. Changing this image is the most important challenge he has ever faced in his otherwise illustrious political career. It is a challenge that he has been facing alone and a fast for "Sadhbhavana" was an important first step and he is successful for some extent in changing the perceptions of people about him as Hindu extremist. In a country that lacks compelling national leaders, he can tell a credible story about past 11 years of electoral victories, competent and relatively uncorrupt administration, political calm for a decade and a steady flow of investment. In spite of the controversies, Narendra Modi has evolved, undoubtedly, as a strong contender for the Prime Minister of India in 2014 election with growing popularity among all the segments voters of India.
Sources:
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13. Mahapatra, Dhananjay (3 December 2010). "SIT clears Narendra Modi of wilfully allowing post-Godhra riots". The Times of India.
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