Tuesday, May 26, 2015

The Economist's Coverage Of Modi Anniversary: Poor

English: 1937 Deng Xiaoping in NRA uniform. 19...
English: 1937 Deng Xiaoping in NRA uniform. 1937年,任八路军总部政治部副主任的邓小平。 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Bill Clinton ended up giving America the longest peacetime economic expansion in history. Were people able to see that coming in year 1? In year 2? In year 3? No. Some things take time.

Frankly, part of The Economist's coverage is patronizing. Perhaps the London newspaper has a colonial hangover.

Look, I was not even rooting for Modi in the 2014 election, and you can check this blog's archives. Although I did not blame him for the 2002 riots (got to respect the Supreme Court) and I liked his work as Gujrat Chief Minister a lot. I came to him late. But I have come to him strong.

This guy is Deng Xiaoping. Manmohan Singh started economic reforms in India. But he did not have the political skills or stature that Modi has.

This guy's hero is Lee Kuan Yew, and for good reason.

The International Importance Of Owaisi

Taj Mahal, Agra, India. Français : Taj Mahal, ...
Taj Mahal, Agra, India. Français : Taj Mahal, Agra, Inde. हिन्दी: ताज महल, आगरा, भारत. پښتو: تاج محل, اګره, هند. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The goal is a total spread of democracy across the Muslim world and there the Owaisi brothers are uniquely positioned. They are a parliamentary force, they are a democratic force, they are an electoral force.

To the Hindus I say, take pride in your religion. But also, take pride in your citizenship. Your citizenship requires that you do right by Muslims.

Muslim marginalization in India has to end. Democracy has to be seen working for India's Muslims before it can be sold across the Muslim world.

Akbar was a great king. अब तो राजाओं का जमाना रहा नहीं --- I hope some day India sees a duly elected Muslim Prime Minister. That is what India has to do if it aspires to become a global power like America.

अमरिका का राष्ट्रपति काला आदमी बन सकता है तो कोइ मुसलमान भारतका प्रधान मंत्री क्यों नहीं बन सकता?

दलितों को, मुसलमानों को बराबरी नहीं मिलती तो उस भारत पे मुझे गर्व नहीं हो सकता।

दलित, महिला, मुसलमान
सबकी एक ही चाहत
बराबरी बराबरी


Owaisi, Like Atal, Is A Great Parliamentarian

Who’s afraid of Owaisi? Congress, Lalu, Mulayam, Mamata …
For the first time since the Muslim League migrated to Pakistan, a political party with undiluted Muslim credentials is making a credible bid for support on an allIndia basis. ....... Its ambitions are pan-Indian. It is a gathering (majlis) of Muslims on the platform of unity (ittehad). Its leader, Asaduddin Owaisi, an MP , refuses to be embarrassed by his focus, or faith, or his route map in the competitive jungle of democratic aspiration. ...... Aurangabad’s just-concluded municipal elections. The MIM won 26 of 54 seats it contested in the 113-member body to become the third largest party after BJP and Shiv Sena. Congress slipped from 19 seats to 11; NCP from 11 to two. In the recent assembly bypoll in Mumbai, which Congress heavyweight Narayan Rane lost, MIM got most of the Muslim votes. Something is happening. ....... There has been no Muslim leader of Indian Muslims since Maulana Azad, and he was a spent force by 1947. ........ There were only 11, 19 and 20 Muslim MPs in the first three Lok Sabhas, or in the decade when Congress under Nehru had a virtual monopoly and could get, as was often said, a lamppost elected. This was between 2 to 4% representation for 14% of India. ...... In Bengal, Muslims have around 30% of the vote. Do they get 30% of MPs even under the Left and Trinamool Congress? Try another joke. ....

The present Lok Sabha has only 22 Muslim members.

...... The young are tired of clichés. They want education. Their habitat and skills are largely urban rather than rural. They want jobs. They are starved for employment. ..... Five MIM councillors in Aurangabad are Dalit. The MIM has shown the capacity not only to pull voters in its direction but also to transfer votes to its non-Muslim candidates. ..... The MIM seems to have acquired some critical mass in Maharashtra but we will have to see whether its leader, Owaisi, has that willpower to carry his momentum into the Hindi heartland, and Bengal, which is where his future will be shaped.