Narendra Modi vs the Dynasty: Contrasting Ideas of India

[Rahul M]

thx seldon saar.

[disha]

How does that statement mean that she idolizes SG? are you the guy tweeting? What is the point in posting stuff like this?t

Archan, what is the point in stopping a data point coming in? Let Sushupti'ji post. He is bringing in several data points/view points floating in the twitter. Some are valid and some are very invalid.

To me it gives an insight into AlbatrossInflight's thinking. His trust level on whatever he calls "D4" is absymally slow. And Sushmaji should not be making off the cuff statements. When she was asked why SSC is contesting from 2 seats in MP a more diplomatic answer would be, that is an appropriate question for the MP Election Campaign chief or for SSC. And add in that she is glad the people of MP love their CM - why bring in Sonia? Why be defensive?

I do not think that the "so-called" D4 are not hand-in-glove with CongIs - they are simply out-smarted sometimes by the cunning manipulative CongIs. And sometimes this leaders have to reach across the aisle to see there is track-II diplomacy within ruling party/opposition party. It is a different issue that the current ruling junta has burned those bridges. And they will be hauled through coals.

Just see Baba Ramdev's recent statement on CBI. He is coming in support of clarification by SC on CBI at the earliest. Puts the ruling junta in a serious bind.

[disha]

Looks like you have problem with me posting even links and screen shots of tweets. I will not post it anymore. Confine myself to Philosophy thread.

Sushupti'ji, philosophically - that is a temper tantrum Please continue posting. We may not have time to actively appreciate your postings, but some of us do look forward to your posts. All in the world of making some method out of the current chaotic madness.

[harbans]

For a party that wants a role in the Center, it should do things out of conviction and reason, not just because someone else does it. Doesn't really look good a top leader giving that kind of retort.

[disha]

Not to be outdone Kerala's UF gubmint has also taken it upon itself to flatter namo as much as it can, through imitation (more like theft or plagiarism, without credit)... seems in their infra development advertisements, Kerala state govt is using pictures of Guj's roads... no kiddin...

Kerala's UF government is secular, hence it has the rights do indulge in theft, plagiarism, lies etc.

[chaanakya]

Looks like you have problem with me posting even links and screen shots of tweets. I will not post it anymore. Confine myself to Philosophy thread.

Well, I like it. And of course you take great pains to post those images of tweets. We never know when tweeter acct could be deleted. Please keep posting for everybody's sake.

[SaiK]

Not to be outdone Kerala's UF gubmint has also taken it upon itself to flatter namo as much as it can, through imitation (more like theft or plagiarism, without credit)... seems in their infra development advertisements, Kerala state govt is using pictures of Guj's roads... no kiddin...

Kerala's UF government is secular, hence it has the rights do indulge in theft, plagiarism, lies etc.

i hope you don't next suggest a right to secularism under this definition.

[Abhijit]

Sushama ji's response should have been 'why don't you ask this question to Sonia G also?' In fact why don't you ask anything to sonia madam?, instead of drawing a parallel. But for far too long the dilli billli BJPites have been in a sort of defense/co-op mode that they are not able to turn into offense right away.

[muraliravi]

Watching the youtube thing after the fact. Kalyan singhji's speech was heartwarming man... a true blue jingo in the diehard mold... wow. Am impressed all over again...

Only politician to never apologize for December 6, 1992.

Uma Bharti also.

[fanne]

Today's speech of Modi was heart warming. It was high on rhetoric (after a long time), low on substance, probably how people would have liked to hear it.

[muraliravi]

Today's speech of Modi was heart warming. It was high on rhetoric (after a long time), low on substance, probably how people would have liked to hear it.

I thought it was a good healthy mix of both. He should maintain the same mix from now on

[ashashi]

What is the point in posting stuff like this?

I have the same question every time I come across a 2000 word sermon, which has become a daily event, lately.

BTW, I do find many of Sushupti's posts interesting and informative. He/She often conveys more information in those short posts of tweet pics and links to news/opinions than the 2000 word sermons, IMO.

[RoyG]

Modi speeches are getting a bit boring which is expected. He's going to save the good stuff for the finishing lap. It would be nice to see some NGO types get into some trouble. Hope Modi turns up the heat on Teesta, Harsh, etc.

[member_22539]

^Well one can't expect each of his speeches to be interesting like the latest episode of one of those soap operas. He mostly has the same message and he needs to deliver it to the masses, most of whom do not have the luxury of staying glued to the television for his speeches or following him on youtube. So, yes it can get repetitive. But I am pretty sure that he will insert something interesting from time to time like the congi conspiracy in collusion with terrorists. So, do not lose heart, we will be rewarded for our patience (for watching the whole speech).

[krishnan]

[Sushupti]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYjbFqEIcAAxeGr.jpg:large

S.No1, Rubia Sayeed happened under VP Singh Govt supported by BJP from outside. One CT, very prevalent during those days, was that kidnap was organized by Farook Abdulla, through JKLF, for Rajiv Gandhi to humiliate newly sworn govt of VP Singh.

[Vayutuvan]

PM VP Singh did not need any external agency to humiliate him. He did it all by himself when he took Devi Lal's (Tau's) help to occupy the PM khursee re-enacting "kissa khursee ka".

[Singha]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bholanath_ ... dra_Pandey

true believers these two. whether with toy or real weapons I wonder why the IPC related to hijacking was not applied.

[SaiK]

rbull, we already had a big laugh some 200 pages back. you late latif to this dhaaga!

Hard to keep track saar hence, I hope some more late latifs can have a late laugh and non-late latifs can have a refreshed laugh.

perhaps you may want to add to late latif this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ude5nx8HpWY

may be not late laughing but late reckoning for the media.

[Neela]

I do not think that the "so-called" D4 are not hand-in-glove with CongIs - they are simply out-smarted sometimes by the cunning manipulative CongIs. And sometimes this leaders have to reach across the aisle to see there is track-II diplomacy within ruling party/opposition party. It is a different issue that the current ruling junta has burned those bridges. And they will be hauled through coals.

Disha, several years ago, there was a beautiful article written by an Army guy. He hit the nail on the head when he wrote "Indians suffer from a false sense of morality" . This disease afflicts the D4.They try to stick to morals, principles, procedures & law with the Congress. The Congress wolfpack however would tweak or break the above to suit itself & consolidate its power base.

[krishnan]

http://www.rediff.com/news/report/modi- ... 131109.htm

The top Republican leadership in the United States has congratulated Narendra Modi on being nominated as the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, and has extended an invitation to address Congressional leaders and Indian Americans via satellite at the Capitol Hill.

[Neela]

First it was the UK. Now, the US is deploying itsescape hatch and blamed Indian media for blowing Modi's visa issue out of proportion.
This is what they said:

Dismissing visa as a non-issue, the official said it was largely a creation of the Indian media and not at all an issue in the US Government.
"Visa issue is a media creation. He has to apply and we will review. He (Modi) has not applied (for a visa)," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

But as recently as Aug 2013, the US mentioned that Modi will not be "granted the privelege of a US visa for other reasons"

"Katrina Lantos Swett, vice-chairwoman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: When pointed out that courts have not yet found any evidence of Modi's involvement in the 2002 riots, Swett said: "Certainly in our system of justice you can be found not guilty, which is not the same thing as found innocent."

"Under these circumstances we should follow our laws, which say that we should not give a visa. Of course Modi wants us to reverse our position because that would be part of his rehabilitation process," she said.

The religious freedom commission is bipartisan and gives recommendations to the US govt. So , it is part of the US govt. Blaming Indian media for the cop out is like blaming and whining like little girls. The commission's methods and people must have poor understanding of India and are probably unfit for their jobs.

Modi should not apply for the visa. And if Modi wins, US must be made to look like a fool when they try to extricate themselves out of this corner. I am not sure how Modi is going to play this but I am expecting him to play just a little hard to get. This will work in India's favor. Imagine if Modi and Ombaba meeting for the first time. The visa denial and reversal will make his position appear weak.

[Neela]

http://www.rediff.com/news/report/modi- ... 131109.htm

The top Republican leadership in the United States has congratulated Narendra Modi on being nominated as the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, and has extended an invitation to address Congressional leaders and Indian Americans via satellite at the Capitol Hill.

Eh? The Republicans are thick or what? Narendra Modi was nominated PM candidate months ago. Why congratulate him now?
Is Modi being drawn into Republican / Democratic political battle?

[Lilo]

Two contrasting growth stories
R. SRINIVASAN

Bullish on Narendra Modi.The political optimism over a possible change of government appears to be outweighing the gloom on the economic front.

November 6, 2013:
India watchers can be excused for turning schizophrenic. How else can they be expected to react, if, virtually simultaneously, they are presented with two wildly divergent views on the future prospects of the India Growth Story?
On the one hand, one had a significant new report from investment bank Goldman Sachs, ‘Modi-fied’ its stance on India, upgrading it to marketweight (investment grade), on the premise that a possible win for a Narendra Modi-led BJP will result in a turnaround in sentiment — and an to 10 per cent jump in stock prices.
At the same time, there was a more sobering indicator from HSBC, whose Purchase Managers Indices (PMIs) for both manufacturing and services sectors declined for the third and fourth successive month respectively.
“October data indicated falling levels of production and new orders in the Indian manufacturing economy, as the business climate within India remained tough,” the HSBC report said.
Another bull run?

However, the gloom in the ‘real economy’ — represented by the likes of the executives responsible for purchase and manufacturing decisions in over 500 companies which HSBC polls for the PMI — was overshadowed by the euphoria generated by the Goldman Sachs report, which appeared to indicate that the Indian stock market was set for yet another bull run.
And why not? The Goldman Sachs view is a powerful boost, not just for Narendra Modi’s election campaign, but for proponents of the India Growth Story.
After all, it was the same Goldman Sachs’ original BRICS report which had ignited the world’s imagination, turned attention to the emergence of new players in the world economic order, and helped channel billions and billions of dollars into the Indian capital markets. Of course, Goldman Sachs is not betting the farm on just Modi winning. It says it has also weighed in other factors, such as the pressure on the rupee easing with good foreign capital inflows, the turnaround in exports and a “cyclical pick-up” and “structural improvements” in the economy, with the resultant improvement in corporate earnings.
Now for the schizophrenic part. The HSBC report pointed out a further “deterioration” of business conditions in the country. “Reflective of a sustained reduction in order books, Indian manufacturers lowered their production volumes in October,” the report said.
Agent of change

In other words, while Goldman Sachs was expecting companies to do better, the companies themselves — according to HSBC — were expecting to do worse, and adjusting their decisions accordingly. HSBC’s survey participants said incoming new work and fresh orders also fell at a faster rate, with several participants commenting on “weaker demand” and a “difficult economic climate.”
Commenting on the India Manufacturing PMI™ survey, Leif Eskesen, Chief Economist for India & ASEAN at HSBC said: “Businesses continue to cut back purchases and a rise in inventories suggest that output will remain subdued. Input price inflation accelerated further despite the weak growth backdrop, as the effects of the depreciated exchange rate continue to pass through.
Saddled with additional costs, firms decided to lift output prices to protect margins. This suggests that the RBI has to continue its staring contest with inflation.”
But for Goldman Sachs analysts, the political optimism over a possible change of government appears to be clearly outweighing the gloom on the economic front.
“Current opinion polls suggest a higher probability of a BJP-led alliance forming the next government. Domestic equity investors tend to view the BJP as business-friendly, and the party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as an agent of change,” its report said.
Clearly, the movers and shakers in the stock market appear keen for a change — and have already voted with their feet for the kind of change that they want. The hype surrounding the charismatic Modi, as well as the current government’s inability to either effectively counter his oratory in public forums, or manage the fallout on the common man because of slowing growth and rising prices, have meant that as far as the investment community is concerned, a change of government is a change for the better.
Surprise performer

It is partly this optimism which appears to have spurred the recent, and record-breaking, surge in stock prices. The benchmark BSE Sensex (the index flourishes, even if the exchange does not), hit an all-time high of 21,239.36 points in the special Diwali ‘Muhurat’ trading last Sunday.
It has been a surprise performer in an otherwise pervasively gloomy environment, topping even the record high achieved just before the Lehman Brothers crisis exploded and sent the world’s financial markets into a meltdown.
But it would be dangerous to read too much into the current market rally. Retail investors, who generally enter the market when they feel the future looks bright for them, have been exiting in droves. The number of retail ‘folios’ (investments) with mutual funds fell by a record 35 lakh in number in the first six months of the year, according to a CRISIL estimate.
The share of retail investors in the total funds managed by mutual funds (which are theoretically meant to be a retail investment vehicle) is just 19 per cent, with companies making up nearly half and ‘high net worth individuals’ making up the rest.
Even when the Sensex was at its record high, more than half the companies which make up the 30-share index were trading well below their individual record highs, with one, public sector power equipment maker BHEL, at just one fourth its record high.
‘Worst is over’

At the individual stock level, clearly, investors are seeing the real picture. BHEL’s stock price, for instance, reflects its stressed order book position, with activity in the power sector, particularly in new capacity addition, having come to a grinding halt in the face of a number of issues ranging from land acquisition to environmental clearances to tying up of fuel supply agreements.
But at the macro level, schizophrenia appears to be the order of the day. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, for instance, declared that the “worst is over” for the economy and that he could see “green shoots” of revival everywhere. Just a couple of days later, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations M. Rafeeque Ahmed, lamented: “Consumption demand is hurting because of inflation and high interest rates. At the same time, investment demand is hurting because of general sentiment, the policy framework and the relatively high interest rates.”
In fact, everywhere one looks, dichotomies abound. Core sector numbers are up, but companies are cutting output citing power issues. Credit offtake is up, with infrastructure credit up 21 per cent in 2012-13, but infrastructure creation has fallen. The Sensex is up, but retail investors are fleeing. Agriculture is headed for a bumper harvest, but food prices are at record highs…
Perhaps the ‘Modi effect’ is caused by the fact that he has the ability, at least while he is on stage or on your TV screens, to make you look at just one thing at a time!

Srinivasan of HBL Grudgingly acknowledge s NaMos ability to keep hopes high even in gloomiest of times. And for market and the corresponding investment climate in the country the nebulous "sentiment" thingy about "future" is always the final denominator .
My onlee prayer now is that NaMos team doesn't get complacent and persists with nothing but the goal of 2014 in sight . Moi other necessary prayers and incantations will be saved for post 2014 when modi is sitting on Delhi ki gaddi .

[Singha]

like all pragmatic players they are hedging their bets...doing enough to ensure he is not pissed off 24x7 with the US which will be useful if INC rampart falls.

[Neela]

Dont know how much this is true from casual talk with ex colleagues at Intel. India hiring for pure design jobs has slowed down considerably . Same time, Hillsboro ( manufacturing, Oregon ) sees increase in hiring for those design roles. Apparently there is pressure from Washington on this. Obama's repeated references to Bangalore is another data point. And with recent news on US stance on Pak, kashmir, we should be in no doubt about US position.
If Modi wins and goes to Russia first or if Putin visits India first - that will be a clear, clear signal to the US. The first visit MMS made after becoming PM in 2004 was to US, Europe.

[member_22539]

^+1, He should do that. USA must be taught a lesson in longterm interests.

[Arunkumar]

Maybe neither. he has made repeated references to making India a arms-exporting country and also how during war-time weapons supply can be cut-off against our interets. This is clear signal of no alignment either with US with A or US with SR. Probably the beginning of true Non Aligned MOvement with our self interest on priority

[vivek.rao]

First it was the UK. Now, the US is deploying itsescape hatch and blamed Indian media for blowing Modi's visa issue out of proportion.
This is what they said:

Dismissing visa as a non-issue, the official said it was largely a creation of the Indian media and not at all an issue in the US Government.
"Visa issue is a media creation. He has to apply and we will review. He (Modi) has not applied (for a visa)," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

But as recently as Aug 2013, the US mentioned that Modi will not be "granted the privelege of a US visa for other reasons"

"Katrina Lantos Swett, vice-chairwoman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: When pointed out that courts have not yet found any evidence of Modi's involvement in the 2002 riots, Swett said: "Certainly in our system of justice you can be found not guilty, which is not the same thing as found innocent."

"Under these circumstances we should follow our laws, which say that we should not give a visa. Of course Modi wants us to reverse our position because that would be part of his rehabilitation process," she said.

The religious freedom commission is bipartisan and gives recommendations to the US govt. So , it is part of the US govt. Blaming Indian media for the cop out is like blaming and whining like little girls. The commission's methods and people must have poor understanding of India and are probably unfit for their jobs.

Modi should not apply for the visa. And if Modi wins, US must be made to look like a fool when they try to extricate themselves out of this corner. I am not sure how Modi is going to play this but I am expecting him to play just a little hard to get. This will work in India's favor. Imagine if Modi and Ombaba meeting for the first time. The visa denial and reversal will make his position appear weak.

If he wins, he should not invite US ambassador for inauguration or meet him for several months. No formal communication with PMO. Let them beg like little dogs.

[vivek.rao]

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/debun ... 18661.html
Debunking the ‘facts’ on Narendra Modi and Muslims

There is a wide difference between healthy criticism and diatribe. Jaffrelot, professor of Indian politics and sociology at King’s India Institute, London, and non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has made sweeping one-sided comments on Muslims and Modi to the detriment of both – and his own credibility. In his narrative about this relationship, despite Modi’s Sadhbavna Mission, his “ability to reach out to Muslims was doubtful” and this is proven by the “fact” that the BJP’s Muslim vote share fell from 22 percent in 2007 to 20 percent in 2012.

Jaffrelot’s other “facts” are the following: Modi did not find it fit to nominate even one MLA from the BJP in the last assembly elections; Modi refused a skullcap at his Sadhbhavna fast in 2011; he refused scholarships to poor Muslims on the ground that these discriminated against poor people from other communities; and that Muslims in Gujarat continue to remain poorer than the rest. Jaffrelot also makes much of the fact that Atal Behari Vajpayee used to hold “iftar” parties and Eid Milans to prove that Modi remains communal. For Jaffrelot, Modi’s “hum paanch, hamare pachees” reference from a 2002 election speech is more defining of his attitude to Muslims than anything concrete he may have done from the community after his election. The problem with this kind of mindless criticism is simple: it seems to put a premium on “symbolic gestures” like wearing skullcaps to judge Modi, while at the same time ignoring the real changes that have taken place on the ground. Now, consider these “real” facts about Gujarat’s Muslims and Modi.

The problem with this kind of mindless criticism is simple: it seems to put a premium on “symbolic gestures” like wearing skullcaps to judge Modi, while at the same time ignoring the real changes that have taken place on the ground.

Whatever Modi may have said in election speeches in 2002, the fact is many Muslims in India are not interested in tokenism and symbolism. Whether Modi wears a skullcap or not is of little interest to Muslims; it does not matter if Modi throws iftar parties or not, for Muslims can see through this hypocrisy. In the aspirational politics of today, these are empty gestures. We don’t know where Jaffrelot gets his figures from on Muslim voting patterns. More than 31% of Muslims voted for BJP in 2012. Out of 12 Muslim majority constituencies, 8 were won by the BJP. He may not have given a single assembly ticket to Muslims, but in the local elections in February-March 2013, more than 200-plus Muslims were elected on a BJP ticket.

As opposed to this tokenism, consider the case of real empowerment of Muslims in Gujarat. The only way to empower Muslims is through Education, Education and Education. In Ahmedabad, there were only three schools for Muslims. Today there are 25 run by Muslims – a 10-fold increase in 10 years – and this is the case in many other parts of Gujarat. Gujarat has among the lowest poverty ratios for Muslims and it counts among the seven states which have lower poverty than Hindus in rural as well as urban areas. Jaffrelot quotes old statistics to show that Muslims in Gujarat are worse off than Hindus – but what matters is how fast their lot is improving, not the historical disadvantage they have always had in almost all states outside the south. The Gujarat model is often compared unfavourably with Nitish Kumar’s Bihar model, but here is what economist Surjit Bhalla had to say about Muslim poverty decline in Gujarat against Bihar. Comparing percentage declines in poverty for all states with a Muslim population of more than six percent between 2004-05 and 2011-12, Bhalla writes: “For Muslims, Gujarat had the third highest decline among 15 states in the country and for SC/STs, the eighth highest decline. For the disadvantaged groups together, Gujarat’s rank is sixth and seventh for OBCs. Modi’s political, governance and growth comparator and competitor Nitish Kumar obtains the following disappointing rankings: ninth for both Muslims and SC/STs, 11th for the disadvantaged, and 10th for OBCs.” Jaffrelot also makes the mistake of putting only Gujarat under the microscope – when he could have usefully compared the plight of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal – all states run by supposedly secular parties.

Recently, a former IGP of Maharashtra said: “The most safe place for Muslims today is Gujarat.” He goes on to say that Maharashtra has done the greatest damage to the Muslim’s image. Recently a prominent Islamic scholar, Maulana Mehmood Madni of the Jamiat-ul-ulema-e-Hind had said that Muslims in Gujarat are better off in many economic indicators. He also said that there are more Muslims in jails in Maharashtra, UP, and Bengal than in Gujarat. Maulana Gulam Vastanvi has said that “Gujarati Muslims have benefited from the economic growth of Gujarat” Muslim government employees are 11% of the total in Gujarat (higher than their population share) and the police force has 12% Muslims.

The Gujarat government has its own scholarship for the “weaker sections” under which 63,000 Muslim students have benefited to the tune of about Rs 2,600 each. Then there is the Gujarat Minority Finance Corporation which has disbursed over Rs 63 crore to Muslims in the range of Rs 25,000-2,00,000 each.

Now, let’s turn the spotlight on how Jaffrelot’s own country treats its Muslims. Muslims of Arab origin live in squalid conditions in the suburbs of Paris and they are discriminated against in the worst possible manner in the guise of “secularism”. Prof Jaffrelot may take umbrage that the BJP offered burqas to Muslim women who attended Modi’s rally, but in France they have simply banned the burqa and the hijab. Islamophobia is alive and well in Jaffrelot’s France. In India, it is Modi-phobia at work. Modi may have moved on from 2002, but his critics have not. They have a vested interest in keeping Muslims focused on victimhood by keeping old wounds raw.

[वरुण]

Recently met with an elderly top retired IB guy (a close relative). He had never spoken about internal affairs earlier, but for some reason he was extremely vocal this time. I'm guessing it is the Modi effect.

Anyway, the amount IB knows about Sonia and her shady dealings was astounding to hear. There had become 2 camps in the dynasty (pre IG and Sanjay G), and Sonia G's camp won. If Modi comes in, and lets law take its course, I wouldn't be surprised if Sonia G's camp gets into major trouble.

[subhamoy.das]

^+1, He should do that. USA must be taught a lesson in longterm interests.

Obama - not US - needs to be taught a lesson.

[Yagnasri]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/mar ... 506195.cms
Now share market response. These guys predict things better than surveys. Other ones are betting fellows. Obama and his gang in white house are very very very left and pro Islamic people. Their party is traditionally anti Indian. So we need not except anything to change.

[Hari Seldon]

^^^ No stoopid acts by PMO pls. If (and its still a big IF) NM makes it to PMO, then should maintain careful distance from P-5. No need to travel abroad and that kind of thing. Send sushmaben on those jaunts.

NM needs to do his job cleaning up the augean stables at home... will need all his time and then some. Get amitbhai shah into the home ministry - first map out the jholawala-NGO-maopest-mi$$ionary-EJ nexus and take it down in simultaneous raids. Fix the darned courts system where cases stretch 10+ yrs. Scrap the boondoggles by the Cong-I by realigning them and plugging leaks (which'll shrink their size by well over half). Tie in funding from taxes to specific national infra projects (like was done with fuel cess and NHAI's golden quad project)... and sooo much more...

[Yagnasri]

Modi work is Basically in India. There is no need to visit nations which are not historically our well wishers. There are many nations which will be willing to deal with us and has historically good relations with us. Like Japan, SoKo, Even Burma. Lot of business relations can be developed there. US and UK should be avioded as long as possible to show them that they no longer treat us like s**t. UK in any event a nation of beggers. Other than Germany rest of EU is in a very bad condition anyway.

Get out of CW of UK. Its membership is an insult to Indics.

[vishvak]

This majority minority religious etcetera etcetera is all BS in healthy politics.

I am not sure if USA has minority commission but I can guess why not.

If you look at Indian politics, the majority/minority issues are gamed. Considering international standard for a community to have minority status applies only if the strength of community is about 1% or less. In India, minority commission should have members from Sikh, Parsee, Bodo, etc communities but it is occupied(or is it hijacked) by two communities alone ie Muslims, Christians. Corollary is that how will actual minorities avail of minority rights when pseudo minorities are claiming minority rights. Assam riots is an example where minority commission officially visited 3/4 Muslim camps but few Bodo camps.

Majority is accused of saffron terror etc with machinery of state busy at it.

So such utterances in religious sense are up to no good. USA being only superpower and most modern state should not be talking in terms of religion at all to begin with.

[Singha]

myanmar, ASEAN nations, singapore, Soko, Japan, Kenya, tanzania, Uganda, south africa , sri lanka must be our top economic and foreign policy priorities. nothing like security and good economic relations with IOR rim and APACJ region. also brazil , mexico and argentina. our people need work and our companies need markets. we must seek them where they exist rather than listen to pious lectures.

[harbans]

A minority is not a minority if it has the power to split the country into a few parts. Irony is that the reality is the majority have to be defended from such minorities.

[vishvak]

Not just majority but majority as well as minorities too for pseudo minorities are going to repeat the same or do something similar everywhere.

[Rampy]

If he wins, he should not invite US ambassador for inauguration or meet him for several months. No formal communication with PMO. Let them beg like little dogs.[/quote]

I don't think it's just to build relation with Modi, it's the Indian community who vote democrats to switch