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listen),
born 17
September 1950) is the 15th and current Prime Minister of India, in office since May
2014.[1][2] Modi, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), previously served as the Chief
Minister of Gujarat statefrom 2001 to 2014. He is currently the Member of Parliament (MP)
fromVaranasi.
Modi led the BJP in the 2014 general election, which resulted in an outright majority for the BJP
in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Indian parliament) the last time that any party had
secured an outright majority in the Lok Sabha was in 1984. Since then, Modi has also been
credited for the BJP's electoral victories in the states of Haryana and Maharashtra in October
2014. [3]
Modi is a Hindu Nationalist and a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).[4][5] He
is a controversial figure both within India as well as internationally[6][7][8][9] as his administration
has been criticised for failing to act to prevent the 2002 Gujarat riots.[9][10] Modi has been praised
for his economic policies, which are credited with creating an environment for a high rate of
economic growth in Gujarat.[11] However, his administration has also been criticised for failing to
make a significant positive impact upon the human development of the state.[12]
met Vasant Gajendragadkar and Nathalal Jaghda, Bharatiya Jana Sangh leaders who were
later founding members of the BJP's Gujarat unit in 1980.[24][25][26][27]
In keeping with the traditions of the Ghanchi caste, Modi's marriage was arranged by his
parents while he was still a child. He was engaged at the age of 13 to Jashodaben Chimanlal,
and married when he was 18. They spent little time together, and were soon estranged when
Modi decided to pursue an itinerant life.[17][28] The marriage was reportedly never
consummated.[29] Modi kept the marriage secret for most of his career, only acknowledging the
existence of his wife when filing his nomination for a parliamentary seat in the 2014 general
elections.[30][31]
Little is known of the time he spent traveling; however, in interviews Modi has spoken of visiting
various Hindu ashrams, or places of Hindu religious learning, founded by Swami Vivekananda.
The first of these was the Belur Math near Kolkata. He later visited the Advaita
Ashrama in Almora, and the Ramakrishna mission in Rajkot. However he was only able to stay
for a short period in each ashram, as he lacked a college education, and the institutions were
strictly limited to postgraduates.[32][33][34] After two years of travel, Modi returned to Vadnagar, and
after a brief visit left again for Ahmedabad. Here he lived with his uncle and worked at a canteen
also run by his uncle at the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation.[35][36] In Ahmedabad, Modi
renewed his acquaintance with Inamdar, who was then based at Hedgewar Bhavan, the RSS
headquarters in the city.[24][25][37] After the end of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, he stopped
working for his uncle and became a fulltime pracharak (campaigner) of the RSS.[36][38] In 1978,
Modi became a sambhaag pracharak (regional organiser) for the RSS, and also earned
an extramural degree in political science through a distance education course atDelhi
University.[29][39] In 1983, he completed his Master of Arts degree in political science from Gujarat
University.[19][40]
The RSS assigned Modi to the BJP in 1985.[26] In 1988, Modi was elected an organising
secretary of BJP's Gujarat unit, marking his formal entry into electoral politics. [29][48] He rose to
prominence within the party after helping organise L. K. Advani's Ayodhya Rath Yatra in 1990
and Murli Manohar Joshi's Ekta Yatra (Journey for Unity) in 199192.[17][49] His electoral strategy
as secretary was seen to be central to the BJP's victory in the 1995 state assembly
elections.[26][50][51]Later in the same year in November, Modi was elected National Secretary of the
BJP, and was transferred to New Delhi where he was assigned responsibility for the party's
activities in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.[50][52] In 1996, Shankersinh Vaghela, one of the
most prominent leaders of the BJP in Gujarat, defected to the INC after he lost his parliamentary
seat in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections.[17] While on the selection committee for the 1998
Assembly elections in Gujarat, Modi favoured supporters of Patel over those loyal to Vaghela, in
an attempt to put an end to the factional divisions within the party. His strategies were credited
as being key to the BJP winning an overall majority in the 1998 elections.[50][53] As a result, Modi
was promoted to the post of general secretary (Organisation) of the BJP in May 1998.
Modi's involvement in the events of 2002 has continued to be debated. Several scholars have
described the events of 2002 as a pogrom, while others have called it an instance of state
terrorism.[79][80][81] Summarizing academic views on the subject, Martha Nussbaum stated that
"There is by now a broad consensus that the Gujarat violence was a form of ethnic cleansing,
that in many ways it was premeditated, and that it was carried out with the complicity of the
state government and officers of the law."[82] In 2012, Maya Kodnani, a former minister in Modi's
Government from 200709, was convicted of having participated in the Naroda Patiya
massacre during the 2002 riots.[83][84] She was both the first female and the first MLA to be
convicted in a post-Godhra riots case.[85] While initially announcing that it would seek the death
penalty for Kodnani, Modi's government eventually pardoned her in 2013 and settled for a
prison sentence.[86][87][88]
A few months after the riots, New York Times reporter Celia Dugger asked Modi if he wished he
handled the riots any differently. He told her his only regret was that he did not handle the news
media better[89][90] and cited India's NDTVchannel as being irresponsible in its reporting.[91]
2002 election
Main article: Gujarat legislative assembly election, 2002
In the aftermath of the violence, there were widespread calls for Modi to resign from his position
as chief minister of Gujarat. These came from both within and outside the state, including from
the leaders of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and theTelugu Desam Party, which were allies
in then BJP-led NDA government at the centre. The opposition parties stalled the national
parliament over the issue.[92][93] In April 2002, at the national executive meeting of BJP at Goa,
Modi submitted his resignation; however, it was rejected by the party.[94] On 19 July 2002, Modi's
cabinet had an emergency meeting and offered its resignation to the Governor of Gujarat, S. S.
Bhandari, and the assembly was dissolved.[95][96] In the subsequent elections, the BJP, led by
Modi, won 127 seats in the 182-member assembly.[97] Modi made significant use of anti-Muslim
rhetoric during his election campaign, though he later denied it.[98][99][100][101] Modi won from the
Maninagar constituency receiving 1,13,589 votes of the total of 1,54,981 votes polled defeating
Congress Candidate Yatin Oza by a difference of 75,333 votes.[102] On 22 December 2002, Modi
was sworn in as the Chief Minister for a second time by the Governor Bhandari.[103]
Gujarat after the decline of Ahmedabad's textile industry.[55] Modi dropped Gordhan Zadafia, an
ally of his former Sangh coworker and VHP state chief Praveen Togadia, from the cabinet
ministry. When the BKS launched a farmers' agitation, Modi ordered their eviction from houses
provided by the state government. Modi's decision to demolish 200 illegal temples
in Gandhinagar deepened the rift with VHP.[104][105] Various organisations of the Sangh were no
longer consulted nor informed of Modi's administrative decisions prior to their enactment. [104]
The changes brought by Modi in the period 200207 has led to Gujarat being called an
attractive investment destination. Aditi Phadnis writes that "there was sufficient anecdotal
evidence pointing to the fact that corruption had gone down significantly in the state... if there
was to be any corruption, Modi had to know about it".[55] Modi started financial and technology
parks in the state. During the 2007 Vibrant Gujarat summit, real estate investment deals worth
6.6 trillion were signed in Gujarat.[55]
Despite his focus on economic issues during the second term, Modi continued to be criticised
for his relationship with Muslims. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then Prime Minister of India, who had
asked Modi not to discriminate between citizens in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat violence
and had pushed for his resignation as Chief Minister of Gujarat,[106][107] distanced himself from
Modi and reached out to North Indian Muslims before the 2004 elections to the Lok Sabha. After
the elections, Vajpayee held that the violence in Gujarat had been one of the reasons for BJP's
electoral defeat and acknowledged that not removing Modi immediately after the Gujarat
violence was a mistake.[108][109]
2007 election
Further information: Gujarat legislative assembly election, 2007
In the run up to the assembly elections in 2007 and the general election in 2009, the BJP
stepped up its rhetoric on terrorism.[110] On 18 July 2006, Modi criticised the Indian Prime
Minister, Manmohan Singh, "... for his reluctance to revive anti-terror legislations" such as
the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act. He asked the national government to allow states to
invoke tougher laws in the wake of the 2006 blasts in Mumbai.[111] Around this time Modi
frequently demanded the execution of Afzal Guru,[112] a collaborator of the Pakistani jihadists
who had been convicted of terrorism for his involvement in the2001 Indian Parliament
attack.[113][b] As a consequence of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, Modi held a meeting to
discuss security of Gujarat's 1,600 km (990 mi) long coastline which resulted in the central
government authorisation of 30 highspeed surveillance boats.[114]
In July 2007, Modi completed 2,063 consecutive days as chief minister of Gujarat, making him
the longest-serving holder of that post.[115] The BJP won 122 of the 182 seats in the state
assembly in the 2007 election, and Modi continued as chief minister.[116]
campaigned for its candidates.[137] This brought the number of seats held by the BJP in the state
assembly up to 119.
In 2013, the Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF) at the Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania cancelled a keynote video-conference speech by Modi after some IndianAmericans lobbied against Modi.[138]
After being elected as Prime Minister, Modi resigned from the post of chief minister on 21 May
2014, and his MLA seat from the Maninagar constituency, after delivering a leaving speech
described as emotional. Anandiben Patel was chosen as his replacement.[139]
National government
2009 election
Modi played a role in the 2009 national general election campaign of the BJP[140] and was one of
their star campaigners.[141]
Modi won from both seats he contested; defeating Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi
Party, in Varanasi andMadhusudan Mistry of the Indian National Congress in Vadodara (by a
margin of 570,128 votes, the second highest ever).[152] He led the BJP-led NDA to a decisive
victory in the general elections in which the ruling Indian National Congress suffered its worst
ever defeat.[153][154][155] Modi was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP parliamentary
party following his party's victory in the Indian parliamentary elections and was subsequently
appointed the prime minister by India's president.[156][157] To comply with the rule that a MP can
not hold two constituencies, Modi vacated the Vadodara seat.[158]
In "India's first social media election", Modi effectively used social media like Twitter, Facebook
and Google in his campaign, besides Google Hangouts and holograms for campaign
appearances. He even posted a selfie on Twitter and his victory tweet emerged as the most
retweeted in India.[159]
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister on 26 May 2014 at the Rastrapati Bhavan. He is
India's first prime minister born after the country's independence.[160] In a first of its kind, Modi
invited all SAARC leaders to attend his swearing-in ceremony;[161]the attendees included
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa, Bhutan Prime
Minister Tshering Tobgay, Maldives PresidentAbdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Prime
Minister Navin Ramgoolam of Mauritius (SAARC observer), Nepal Prime Minister Sushil
Koirala, Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif,[162] and Speaker of the National Parliament of
Bangladesh Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.[163][164] Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could
not attend since she had a scheduled state visit to Japan and deputed the Speaker of National
Parliament of Bangladesh to attend the ceremony on her behalf.[165]
Modi's first cabinet consisted of 45 ministers, less than the 70 ministers of the previous
government.[166]
International diplomacy
As chief minister of Gujarat
To attract foreign investment in Gujarat during his time as chief minister, Modi made visits to
countries such as China, Singapore and Japan.[167] He also visited China in November 2006 to
study the Special Economic Zones that were about to be implemented in Gujarat.[168] He again
visited in September 2007[169] and later in November 2011. A month after his visit of 2011,
the Chinese Government released 13 diamond traders from India who had been jailed by
the Shenzhen Customs, which Modi attributed to his diplomatic efforts and statesmanship.
Modi's relationship with many Western nations was a troubled one during his tenure as Chief
Minister. Questions about his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots resulted in a boycott by the UK, the
US and the EU. He was barred from entering the United States under a provision of
the Immigration and Nationality Act.[172] Modi is the only person ever denied a visa to the U.S.
under this provision.[173] The UK as well as the European Union refused to deal with Modi
because of perceptions of his role in the riots. However, as Modi emerged as a national leader
in India, the UK[174] and the EU[175] lifted their boycotts in October 2012 and March 2013
respectively and, following Modi's election as the Prime Minister of India, the US invited him to
Washington.[176][177]
In 2011, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, impressed with the development of
Gujarat, invited Modi to visit Pakistan and address prominent business leaders. They also asked
him to consider a flight between Karachi and Ahmedabad, on account of the historical cultural
and economic relations between the two regions of Gujarat and Sindh. Modi wanted to help
Pakistan out of its power crisis, especially in Sindh, suggesting Pakistan can follow the 'Gujarat
Model' in two ways Gujarat Solar Park and Kalpasar Project.[178]
In April 2014, in a move described as "unexpected", senior Pakistani diplomats told The Daily
Telegraph that Modi is their preferred choice for the Prime Minister of India, "as he could provide
the strong leadership necessary for peace talks".[179]
Although boycotted by Western nations, Modi visited Japan in 2012. According to Ryohei Kasai,
research fellow at the Center for South Asian Studies, Gifu Women's University, Japan, "There
is a growing interest in Modi in Japan with much anticipation that he will reshape India by
revitalizing its economy and better governance. I believe Japan has an excellent relationship
with him. Not only have successive Japanese ambassadors to India been regular guests in
'Vibrant Gujarat' investors' summit (organised biennially) but Japanese private companies also
made a big amount of investment in the state."[180]
September 2014, which was described as very successful, leading to a boosting of bilateral
relations between India and the US.[187]
Gujarat Ratna by Shri Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on
celebration of centenary year.[199]
Best Chief Minister In a nationwide survey conducted in 2007 by India Today magazine,
Narendra Modi was declared the Best Chief Minister in the country.[201]
Asian Winner of the fDi Personality of the Year award for 2009 by FDi magazine.[202]
In March 2012, Modi appeared on the cover of the Asian edition of Time, one of India's few
politicians to have done so.[203]
Modi was featured in Time's 2014 Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.[204]
In 2014, he was ranked as the world's 15th most powerful person by Forbes.[206]