Narendra Modi is the 14th Prime Minister of India, holding office since May 2014. He is the first prime minister born after India’s independence and a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Prior to becoming the nation’s prime minister, Modi served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, where he gained national prominence. He represents the Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha, a seat he has held since 2014.
Narendra Modi joined the RSS, the BJP’s ideological parent, in the 1970s and joined the BJP in 1987. The following year he was chosen as the party’s general secretary for Gujarat. Modi took oath as Gujarat CM in 2001, after replacing Keshubhai Patel, who was held responsible for the government’s poor response to the Bhuj earthquake. Modi contested his first-ever election in 2002, shortly after which the Gujarat riots fueled controversy over his leadership. The Supreme Court in 2022 gave a clean chit to Modi and 63 others in a plea exploring a larger conspiracy behind the riots.
Known for his extensive foreign tours, Modi has been credited with raising India’s global profile. Events like “Howdy Modi” in the U.S. and his visits to countries such as Israel, Japan, and the UAE have underscored his foreign policy successes. He is said to have developed strong relations with top world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, Modi’s leadership has been marked by several controversial statements, especially leading up to the 2024 elections. These include remarks on national security, religion, and political opposition, which have ignited debates.
Writer has brought up an important sentiment that is very much the case on the ground here in the Maldives.
While the ordinary people in the capital city (where the large majority of maldivians reside) cannot escape the sight of (even if they tried) – chinese-maldives friendship bridge connecting Male’ and Airport/Hulhumale (the next urban city)
the numerous chinese funded housing projects where people are moving into every passing day,
Largest hotel and hospital in Male’ built by chinese contractors…
What India is doing for Maldivians is
cut supply of essential commodities,
deny visas not only for MPs but for ordinary people going for healthcare and education.
I think this is misguided foreign policy.
A $ 13 trillion dragon and a $ 2.5 trillion elephant. Roughly equal populations. That suggests realism and pragmatism in the conduct of foreign policy. Dokalam was a stark reminder that advebturism does not pay.