India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Peter Speetjens
Peter is a journalist currently based in São Paulo. After completing law studies in Rotterdam, he embarked on a journey to explore the world, spending a year in India before spending around 20 years in the Middle East and eventually relocating to Brazil. His work has appeared in both Dutch and English language media, including Trouw, De Groene, De Standaard, Hard Gras, NRC, The Blizzard, MO Magazine, Middle East Eye, and Mongabay. Fluent in five languages, he also enjoys photography and co-authored the documentary "2000 Terrorists," which was broadcast by Al Jazeera in 2004.
9 comments
though I liked reading the article……but although a Hindu nationalist this is gross exaggeration that he considers other minorities as second class citizens………I have seen a lot of Christians and Buddhists in Gujarat who think of him highly and adore him….he quite promotes convent schools due to their education standards…..considering the muslims they always think someone is oppressing them till they don’t get their sharia………and for readers not from India…you all must know that muslims come under OBC category here which enjoys 27% reservation in educational institutions and government jobs…..so enough oppurtunuties are provided to muslims……its their choice if they want to develop or fall to hatred
27% to OBCs!!! OMG I am an Indian since 30 years I have been seeing things in India never know of thing like OBCs are only MUslims!!! Thanks for enlighting me Mr what ever u r. Can you please provide me any authentic proof of showing 27% of reservation towards Muslims in Gujarat. Then I will apologise and accept your each and every word. If not, don’t try make fool of Non Indians. Don’t spread lie.
After Gujarat Riots what has Modi done to the Muslims of Gujarat. Still starved for basic things, no security, poor education and forget about jobs in Govt sector.
Largely correct, except for the author’s stress on “Hindu”. Modi or BJP never said they are pro-Hindu. They instead support – true-secularism. What is Hindutva? The meaning of the word is NOT “Hinduness” – the meaning is “equal respect for all religions, discrimination to none”. Please understand the meaning of “Hindutva” properly without jumping to conclusion due to the present of the letters H-I-N-D-U in the word. Modi and BJP is simply against the Congree version of “secularism” which led to the PM Manmohan Singh to declare – the Muslims has the first right on the Nation’s resources…..
I agree with the previous comment.
The article is good one, but is so generalized and (partially) accussing BJP (as if) based on several neo-liberal articles.
Sure, he mentions the relationship between India and Israel is blooming; but so conveniently he forgets to mention that it was established by NOT BJP but Congress!
Kargil, if it wasn’t state sponsered attack on India, it was a terrorist attack. And who helped India in that time of crisis? US, UK, France, Germany? None, but Israel. Now, you tell me, the USA threatens India for buying oil (lifeline of India) from Iran, but didn’t help fight terrorism. Wouldn’t the citizens of India be more inclined to Israel?
And simply, the change in India’s stand towards Israel (through ’47 till now) should be seen in broad sense – not just religiouly tinted one. Compare it with how Pakistan’s view has changed about Israel over the time. Then only you will see that it is more pragmatic change than a change due to religious / political change in India.
By ignoring all these issue and the author calling himself journalist (as well he may be), he looses my respect in the terms of unbiased reporting. Sure, this is opinion and everyone is entitled to one, but the people, with such more responsibility of such a noble profession (journalism) need to be careful what they present to the world and how it affects it – even if its just their personal opinion.
You are completely wrong about modi,Actually many Muslims in India support modi…
The story, and as it starts its first line, is frequently dependent on a word “like”… I don’t think, considering the newly elected government taking power after such a huge landslide victory, India is going or can afford to have such a weak foreign policy at this stage… Please don’t try to woo people on your own assumptions…
I would like to bring to your kind notice of all commentators that this article is not at all Bias and to very core is truth. One of the commentator says that BJP is not a Hindutva party as it never says so… But dear friend have you ever see or heard the manifestos of RSS, Shiv Sena which are wings of BJP? Please go through that, you would change your mind set. Merely 100 days have passed, representatives of Wings of BJP started calling for Hindu state, started hate speeches, riots, what not.
If BJP was not a communal party why all people who has involved in Riots of Gujarat got bail? And don’t forget about Fake Encounter Specialists also got their jobs back forget about imprisonment.
If Modi was liberal let him take stand on fake encounters and give CBI freedom to prosecute who are accused, don’t forget Amit Shah was the one pulling the strings, before CBI gets it’s hands on Amit Shah, BJP govt gave immunity to him. This is the only tip of ice burg… Deep down Modi Govt has it’s own agenda of communalising and making India Hindustan, no doubt about it.
Decent article. I agree that India and Israel’s economic ties should be increased dramatically over the next decade. But there is a natural cultural and social alliance that has naturally existed between Indians and Jews. It is rather evident in the US where Indian-Americans and Jewish-Americans have deep friendships that last a lifetime. They think alike, act alike and even behave alike. They have similar political and social beliefs as well. It’s great to see that the two countries are increasing economic trade, but I would like to see a cultural and social trade take place as well. Or I’ll just do it myself in the future. ;)
Mr Peter,
Your article might work well with others who don’t know about Hindu or Hinduism but scores a negative 50 with those who have a bit of understanding. I can’t correct you here because you are factually wrong about many things which is understandable because you are neither an expert on India nor have first hand knowledge of anything.
‘Ignorance is bliss’ ..keep partying.
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