INDIA'S MODI OR PARTY'S PRIME MINISTER

Stooping to Conquer

By Atique Naqvi | Boston, United States | February 20, 2017

Narendra Modi is the 14th and current prime minister of India.

I have been more or less neutral to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's performance since he became India's leader in mid-2014

However, not any more!

Was watching Indian news few hours back, and saw video clips where the Indian prime minister is addressing election rallies ahead of state assembly polls.

State leaders are expected to talk highly about their achievements or be extremely critical if they are in the opposition.

Election for Indian state assemblies could be quite acerbic where below-the-belt remarks are not an alien concept. *Refer to map at the end of the blog.

But the prime minister of a country is not expected to stoop to a level of playing divisive politics, whether or not campaigning for polls. At the end of the day, the prime minister does not represent a party or an ideology, he/she represents the august office that represents 1.3 billion Indians - in the country or abroad.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Damodar Modi belongs to the ruling BJP, or Indian People's Party. It's a large political party with leaders who have impressive oratory skills, so why the prime minister is going around and addressing state elections rallies?

Because he is the face of the BJP. OK, so what.

There is no issue with the prime minister addressing state election rallies, but he shouldn't be violating the sanctity of the respected office of the India's Prime Minister by indulging in personal attacks and giving discriminatory religious statements.

Now, there is a state party called BSP, or Majority Society Party, and it supposedly represents low caste Indians aka Dalits or referred earlier as "untouchables". The leader of the BSP, Mayawati, is a woman, and she is called Behenji, or elder sister by her supporters. She has millions of supporters in North India, especially in the highest populated state of Uttar Pradesh.

Prime Minister Modi, addressing a polls rally, unleashed scathing attack on Mayawati. He gave a new definition to BSP, Sister's Property Party, if a politician says something like this, it's passable as we all know that politics is a dirty game; but prime minister of India talking like a street politician is unacceptable.

Also, prime minister called upon on Uttar Pradesh politicians inferring that the majority community, Hindus, are being discriminated against. Mr Modi says: If there is a Muslim graveyard, there should a Hindu cremation ground in all villages and towns, and if uninterrupted electricity is provided during the Muslim festivals and it should be provided during Hindu festivals as well.

Now, some of you who are from India or other countries might say that these are not big things, yes I agree. But I'll say, look who's saying it - the Prime Minister of India. (With what's being said from the White House by the US President Donald J Trump these days, may be this is THE NEW NORMAL).