When I came across a piece of report on Obama-Modi equation, my guess
was that the news would go viral creating a stir in not only India, but
worldwide. The story
reported that in an exclusively small fundraiser, the United States’
President Barack Obama made quite a statement that shook up the little
number of audience present there. When a person asked him about his
concern with the newly elected Indian Prime Minister, the President gave
a six word answer that left the audience dumbfound. He said, “My name is Barack HUSSEIN Obama.”
The article first appeared on firstpost.com but now seems to have been removed.With Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) sweeping electoral victory, most
Indian chose to forget about the bygone concerns regarding Prime
Minister Modi’s equation with Muslims. However, it seems that the world
is still haunted by the PM’s alleged past.
Modi is believed to have remained ineffective during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Some even accused him responsible for the whole riot. Therefore, quite a few remained skeptical about Modi’s past, saying that his rule would alter what the idea of “India” stands for i.e. it would undermine secularism. Others on the other hand, endowed Modi with their confidence. However, with India getting Modi-fied, almost everyone in India have eventually come to terms with his rule.
While he seems to have convinced India of his credibility, the short statement made by someone as strong a figure as Obama is certainly going to hang in the air for PM Modi. Modi thus cannot afford to delude any of his moves while in office. There is a need of a concrete, materialized assurance on the part of PM Modi, for he needs to turn around his image of a Hindu nationalist into that of a secular head of government.
As the world, on one hand, might continue to monitor the Indian Prime Minister’s efforts for a secular India, we need to put our trust on the PM that he will bring “acche din” (good days) for the Indian Muslims as well!
Modi is believed to have remained ineffective during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Some even accused him responsible for the whole riot. Therefore, quite a few remained skeptical about Modi’s past, saying that his rule would alter what the idea of “India” stands for i.e. it would undermine secularism. Others on the other hand, endowed Modi with their confidence. However, with India getting Modi-fied, almost everyone in India have eventually come to terms with his rule.
While he seems to have convinced India of his credibility, the short statement made by someone as strong a figure as Obama is certainly going to hang in the air for PM Modi. Modi thus cannot afford to delude any of his moves while in office. There is a need of a concrete, materialized assurance on the part of PM Modi, for he needs to turn around his image of a Hindu nationalist into that of a secular head of government.
As the world, on one hand, might continue to monitor the Indian Prime Minister’s efforts for a secular India, we need to put our trust on the PM that he will bring “acche din” (good days) for the Indian Muslims as well!
