He is interfering in all of the countries in the region. In Maldives the Indian High Commissioner is acting as the defacto Governor General and interfering in their local affairs too. It is in every newspaper there. In fact he has refused to take back some Indian military troops that had come to Maldives.I used to follow Indian politics closely up until Modi won the election in 2014, but I'm a bit out of the loop now. Any possibility of getting a couple of paragraphs of the current situation? I'm under the impression that Modi is getting more repressive and uses all tools of the state apparatus against any voices not conforming to the Hindutva orthodoxy. I saw William Dalrymple was targeted the other day. Or am I way off here?
He’s proper far-right now.I used to follow Indian politics closely up until Modi won the election in 2014, but I'm a bit out of the loop now. Any possibility of getting a couple of paragraphs of the current situation? I'm under the impression that Modi is getting more repressive and uses all tools of the state apparatus against any voices not conforming to the Hindutva orthodoxy. I saw William Dalrymple was targeted the other day. Or am I way off here?
The people he's targeting include student activists, professors, journalists, and politicians. There are 2 major cases under which they're being targeted.I used to follow Indian politics closely up until Modi won the election in 2014, but I'm a bit out of the loop now. Any possibility of getting a couple of paragraphs of the current situation? I'm under the impression that Modi is getting more repressive and uses all tools of the state apparatus against any voices not conforming to the Hindutva orthodoxy. I saw William Dalrymple was targeted the other day. Or am I way off here?
Thanks! It's a worrying development, seems like a very selective use of the judiciary is getting more normalized now.The people he's targeting include student activists, professors, journalists, and politicians. There are 2 major cases under which they're being targeted.
One is related to a big public meeeting of Dalits in Pune in 2018, after which there was some violence. AFAIK, nobody was killed, some property was damaged, and shops were closed for a day. Other caste groups were involved in the violence too.
The other were the much deadlier riots in Delhi this February. This was preceded by a long and very largely peaceful agitation against new citizenship laws he passed. Just before state elections in Delhi, there was widespread religious violence. Unlike in Gujarat 2002, this time casualties on both sides were roughly equal. Some BJP leaders can be seen on video making speeches, soon after their audience is burning and attacking.
In the 1st case, central agenceis (not the state police AFAIK) have targeted speakers and organisers of that event - some Dalit and Left politicians and professors. None of the other caste group leadrs have been questioned. In the 2nd case, the Delhi police (direcly under the control of the central govt) has named a variety of Left and Muslim figures - the leader of the CPM, the leader of a students union who has been arrested on political charges before, a bunch of left professors, and some activists including Gandhians. The BJP leaders caught on tape haven't been questioned.
Besides these two, there have also been increasing arrests of journalists for little or no reason by state govts, including a lot of very obviously targeted arrests by the govt of UP (led by one of Modi's probable successors)
After state elections and casualty is 1/3rd (officially) on one side.Just before state elections in Delhi, there was widespread religious violence. Unlike in Gujarat 2002, this time casualties on both sides were roughly equal.
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That poor socio-economic conditions lead to higher crime (though I'm not sure whether it specifically includes rape) is not a preposterous claim. However, the judge should have backed himself with some numbers.UP is a weird place. The government or party doesn’t matter. The ground reality is it’s more of a $hit hole than any other part of the country.
And this clown was a SC judge:
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Didn't the judge already say Pakistanis were dressed up as kar sevaks?Tweet
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Are you implying that are self-proclaimed nationalists are in fact isi agents out to cause division among Indians and weaken the country ?Didn't the judge already say Pakistanis were dressed up as kar sevaks?
Even the “both sides team” has been burnt by the BJP IT Cell now.
Maybe because the accused are powerful locally and Yogi's style of finishing off the culprits will backfire.I dont know why they aren't admitting its a rape and punishing the accused swiftly. Surely cordoning off Hathras and holding the family hostage is making matter worse
Several folks have said that UP has to be divided into 4 states for any chance of effective administration and policing. That is not going to magically solve the problems but is a must.UP is a weird place. The government or party doesn’t matter. The ground reality is it’s more of a $hit hole than any other part of the country.
And this clown was a SC judge:
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Ive heard that one of the accused boys father is a bjp member and has photos with modi and yogi. It was circulating on whatsapp, could be real or fake.I dont know why they aren't admitting its a rape and punishing the accused swiftly. Surely cordoning off Hathras and holding the family hostage is making matter worse
Never happening, atleast till the current govt stays. Depending how western up is carved it could end up with 30-40% muslim population. And eastern up is basically like bihar, getting subsidized by western up.Several folks have said that UP has to be divided into 4 states for any chance of effective administration and policing. That is not going to magically solve the problems but is a must.
How will they rewrite the crime then.I dont know why they aren't admitting its a rape and punishing the accused swiftly. Surely cordoning off Hathras and holding the family hostage is making matter worse
That was the logic for creating Uttarakhand and Jharkhand. But it hasn't really worked out in terms of governance improvement.Several folks have said that UP has to be divided into 4 states for any chance of effective administration and policing. That is not going to magically solve the problems but is a must.
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I don't stay in India so may not give you the correct perspective but my family and friends are still there and truth is even die hard Modi supporters are slowly but surely getting tired of him but the issue that still remains is lack of opposition. No one sees Rahul as a credible leader, thanks to media and big thanks to himself too. Even guys like Barka dutt and Sardesai who cannot stand BJP have started to question the ambition of congress. I seriously thought 2019 will be the end of rahul and congress will field a new face who can bring new ideas and be a formidable opposition to Modi and by 2024 he or she may even topple the cult of Modi but one year is already done amd we are still in the same boat. I won't be surprised at this rate Modi wins again by default.Is Modi still that popular inside India?
Yeah, BJP might lose states but cant see them losing the centre for at least another 5-10 years. The Gandhi family is never letting go of Congress. I guess their strategy is to outlast Modi and eventually when people get tired of Modi, a Gandhi will be back in power. Its an absurd strategy and shows you the disconnect between the Congress hierarchy and the Indian populace.I don't stay in India so may not give you the correct perspective but my family and friends are still there and truth is even die hard Modi supporters are slowly but surely getting tired of him but the issue that still remains is lack of opposition. No one sees Rahul as a credible leader, thanks to media and big thanks to himself too. Even guys like Barka dutt and Sardesai who cannot stand BJP have started to question the ambition of congress. I seriously thought 2019 will be the end of rahul and congress will field a new face who can bring new ideas and be a formidable opposition to Modi and by 2024 he or she may even topple the cult of Modi but one year is already done amd we are still in the same boat. I won't be surprised at this rate Modi wins again by default.
Also, I don't buy this idea that Modi or BJP can never be defeated. Kejriwal and AAP in delhi showed it can be done. You need a proper opposition who can counter Modi and topple him and not just shout "Chowkidar chor hai" and hope he wins because his name ends with Gandhi.
The farm bills have pissed off many of my Punjabi and Haryanvi friends and colleagues.Is Modi still that popular inside India?
Yes. These small inconveniences like the farm bills etc will be a non-factor by 2024. Demonitisation was supported (in UP they got 400 seats 3 months after demon), then it was unpopular for a while but despite job loss and despite Rahul bringing it up in the election campaign, it was a non-factor in 2019. No reason every other point of opposition will be diluted the same way.Is Modi still that popular inside India?
Yes UP election will be an interesting one but again my concern is how popular the ole wine in SP and BSP are. Wouldn't be surprised if Yogi manages to win again.Yeah, BJP might lose states but cant see them losing the centre for at least another 5-10 years. The Gandhi family is never letting go of Congress. I guess their strategy is to outlast Modi and eventually when people get tired of Modi, a Gandhi will be back in power. Its an absurd strategy and shows you the disconnect between the Congress hierarchy and the Indian populace.
It'll be interesting to see how the UP election unfolds. This is the most vulnerable Yogi has been during his tenure, maybe SP or BSP can wrestle control. Losing UP will be a massive blow.
The only way Yogi will lose is if SP and BSP decide to combine forces. Otherwise the Muslims would end up voting for SP, the underprivileged castes for BSP and BJP will triumph.Yes UP election will be an interesting one but again my concern is how popular the ole wine in SP and BSP are. Wouldn't be surprised if Yogi manages to win again.
They combined in 2019 and got destroyed. Since then Mayawati has complete receded from frontline politics. Even in Hathras she wasn't visible - Rahul, Priyanka, and Chandrashekhar Azad (whom she hates) were. (Of course Akhilesh also didn't turn up).The only way Yogi will lose is if SP and BSP decide to combine forces. Otherwise the Muslims would end up voting for SP, the underprivileged castes for BSP and BJP will triumph.