Live data from Hacker News

India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

reuters.com

121–130 of 162 posts

Re: India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

#121

I find the Internet supporters of Modi/RSS/BJP a fascinating tribe. They are usually well-educated intelligent Indians, but with a marked tendency to turn off their critical-thinking faculties when the latter is mentioned. In addition, they expend enormous amounts of energy on the Internets trying in futility to paper over the obvious, and play the 'it's-all-a-aniti-hindu-conspiracy-card'. Hence the down votes for ra…

Your down vote confirms my statement above. Hiding the truth doesn't make it untrue.

Re: India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

#122
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I no longer live in India but have a large extended family that does. Being in the minority, they are filled with paranoia about what this could mean. I'm still skeptical if anything bad will happen but I am also not living there.

there is nothing to worry about. India has always been a secular country/land from time immemorial. The idea of muslim hindu division is of recent times, starting from british rule. India has been ruled for many centuries by muslims and christians (british).

The idea of a Hindu Muslim division predates the British rule. It has been in existence since the later Mughals[1] (Aurangzeb and his successors).

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Hindus#In_the_Mu...

Re: India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

#123
"Commentators have sought to explain Modi to non-Indians, deploying numerous comparisons to do so; but the one that works best, in my opinion, is to see him as a kind of Indian (or Hindu) Ariel Sharon."

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/16/modi-crushe...

Re: India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

#124
post #14

Here's a short summary to help others who haven't heard much about him. Short background - Has been the Chief Minister (equivalent to Governer) of the Western Indian state of Gujarat for 14 years now. The Good --- * Achieved a very high GDP growth rate for Gujarat * Made Gujarat a preferred destination for big industrialists to set up their factories since he gives land & clearances very readily. * Developed infrastr…

There was also a hidden camera operation which interviewed quite a few of the perpetrators who were leaders of VHP and Bajrang Dal (A few of the right-wing Hindu organizations). A bunch of them claim Modi's explicit approval for the riots.

The comments and the interviews are disturbing to say the least.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Truth:_Gujarat_2002

Re: India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

#125
post #33

Calling Modi "pro-business" seems like a bit of an over-simplication. He's a member of the RSS ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtriya_Swayamsevak_Sangh ), which is arguably a violently anti-muslim paramilitary group, as well as leading the BJP ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharatiya_Janata_Party ). It's not unreasonable to call the BJP centre-right on economic/business issues ... but they have other policies as…

> I'm not Indian and have no connection to the sub-continent. I am, so allow me. 1. The RSS is not "violently anti-muslim", despite what you read on teh internets. They have a Muslim wing, so to speak: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/the-saffron-muslim/... 2. If the "BJP has other policies, which are disturbing", please enlighten us. Just lobbing an attack and walking away doesn't do any good. 3. The US deni…

RSS is a nuisance organization, mostly advocating equivalent of "hindu terrorism".

Re: India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

#126
post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean go to a Modi controlled court and ask milord Modi "where should I seek justice against the crimes you have been doing?" I am sure you are smarter than this.

Modi controlled courts? Dude, do you believe in Indian democracy? Judiciary is independent of the executives. I strongly suggest you go to the courts.

[deleted]

Re: India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

#127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From what I've read about this guy, there seems to be a lot more to add to the "ugly" column. - He equates the plight of muslims murdered in 2002 to a puppy run over by a car [1]. - He has been a life long member of party's most militant wing [2]. - He's not shy about delivering flagrant speeches. Seems to be a very divisive figure. If I were one of the minorities in India, this would be a very disappointing day. [1]…

I no longer live in India but have a large extended family that does. Being in the minority, they are filled with paranoia about what this could mean. I'm still skeptical if anything bad will happen but I am also not living there.

I think Modi knows that indulging in any mischief will (a) hurt business prospects and (b) make him look more of a fanatic in the eyes of the broader world. If anything I see him pushing for development to erase the legacy of the 2002 riots from memory. He said in the campaign - and this is true - 'toilets not temples', a reference to the building of a temple over the razed site of one of the oldest mosques in India from the 1500s or so. Also, he knows that if he's fomenting discord and doesn't get substantial anything done, the voters will throw him out with the same gusto as they did the Congress, for the very same reasons.

EDIT: Why the hell is this getting down voted? Can't the RSS Internet wing engage in reasoned debate?

Re: India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

#128
post #120
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like it or not Pro-business is probably why Modi was elected. Every economic indicator in India went downhill since the BJP has been out of power for the last decade[1][2] - IMO the single biggest contributing factor to get Modi elected. Indians have a short memory, the 2002 riots and other religious issues are not as relevant to the people as they used to be. [1] http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/1448580 [2] http:/…

Here are the GDP growth rates of India. BJP Government --- 1999 - 8.8% 2000 - 3.8% (Dotcom bubble busts) 2001 - 4.8% 2002 - 3.8% 2003 - 7.9% Average GDP growth during BJP government - 5.82% Congress government ---- 2004 - 7.9% 2005 - 9.3% 2006 - 9.3% 2007 - 9.8% 2008 - 3.9% (Recession hits) 2009 - 8.5% (Congress is re-elected for another 5 years) 2010 - 10.3% 2011 - 6.6% 2012 - 4.7% 2013 - 4.8% Average GDP growth dur…

Do you have numbers for the inflation as well?, which has more direct impact on the people than GDP. I know people were scandalized when onion prices increased 300-400% last year. For right/wrong reasons, congress got blamed for that.

Re: India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

#129
post #108
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

There was government involved. Maya Kodnani, who was a part of the BJP government at that time (2001) and later on made the Minister for Women and Child Development (in 2007) in Gujarat was convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

[deleted]

Re: India's pro-business Modi storms to historic election win

#130
post #108
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

There was government involved. Maya Kodnani, who was a part of the BJP government at that time (2001) and later on made the Minister for Women and Child Development (in 2007) in Gujarat was convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

I have updated my facts, thanks.
Post reply on HN