India’s Narendra Modi likely prime-minister-in-waiting, comparing to Ronald Reagan.the former US president. There is some merit to the parallel, particularly because there exists no obvious precedent for a figure like Modi in Indian democratic politics. There are many similarities, Cohen insists, between the personalities and political reception of the two immensely charismatic leaders. Modi is constantly derided by the cultural elite for his apparent lack of sophistication and polish, as was Reagan; Modi shows a keenness to dismantle government paternalism and promote economic liberty instead, as Reagan did. For Reagan’s tough line on Russia, substitute Modi’s promised hard line on Pakistan. And Reagan’s opponents in the US used to tar him as a “racist” in much the same way Modi’s opponents smear him as a “communalist” when what he stands for, in fact, is a refusal to accord minority groups special privileges.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:58:32 +0000
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