India Hindu party moves divisive leader up
Source: Agencies |
April 1, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE main opposition Hindu nationalist party yesterday elevated Narendra Modi, a deeply divisive figure in Indian politics, to the party's top decision-making body, with his supporters believing he could become prime minister in national elections next year.
However, Rajnath Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party president, did not name Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate apparently because of opposition from some allies.
Smriti Irani, a BJP vice president, said the party would make a decision on the issue later. It is not known when the party will announce its candidate. The elections are due in May 2014.
Yesterday, Modi was made a member of the BJP's parliamentary board, which will select candidates and lead the election campaign.
Modi, 62, now heads the BJP government in western Gujarat state. For over a decade, he has worked relentlessly to market the idea of Gujarat state as a business-friendly state and become a hero to businessmen.
Modi says he has transformed his state, bringing it industries, jobs, electricity and water in a country where power outages and joblessness are epidemic.
However, Modi is accused by rights groups and survivors of not doing enough to stop the violence and even stoking it when marauding mobs of Hindus killed and burned their way through Muslim neighborhoods in Gujarat state in 2001, leaving over 1,100 people dead. He was never charged with a crime.
The riots began in February 2002 when a train filled with Hindu pilgrims was attacked by a Muslim mob in a small Gujarat town. A fire erupted - it remains unclear whether it was arson - and 60 Hindus burned to death. In retaliation, Muslims were attacked across the state. Since then, Modi has ruled over a state sharply divided along religious lines.
However, Rajnath Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party president, did not name Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate apparently because of opposition from some allies.
Smriti Irani, a BJP vice president, said the party would make a decision on the issue later. It is not known when the party will announce its candidate. The elections are due in May 2014.
Yesterday, Modi was made a member of the BJP's parliamentary board, which will select candidates and lead the election campaign.
Modi, 62, now heads the BJP government in western Gujarat state. For over a decade, he has worked relentlessly to market the idea of Gujarat state as a business-friendly state and become a hero to businessmen.
Modi says he has transformed his state, bringing it industries, jobs, electricity and water in a country where power outages and joblessness are epidemic.
However, Modi is accused by rights groups and survivors of not doing enough to stop the violence and even stoking it when marauding mobs of Hindus killed and burned their way through Muslim neighborhoods in Gujarat state in 2001, leaving over 1,100 people dead. He was never charged with a crime.
The riots began in February 2002 when a train filled with Hindu pilgrims was attacked by a Muslim mob in a small Gujarat town. A fire erupted - it remains unclear whether it was arson - and 60 Hindus burned to death. In retaliation, Muslims were attacked across the state. Since then, Modi has ruled over a state sharply divided along religious lines.
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