Narendra Modi (b. 1950)

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Biography

Narendra Damodardas Modi is an Indian politician who has served as the prime minister of India since 2014. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the member of parliament (MP) for Varanasi. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindutva paramilitary volunteer organisation. He is the longest-serving prime minister outside the Indian National Congress.

In Their Own Words (5)

I don't want any credit. I don’t need any credit. But the Army is ours. It is our pride. Why should not we take pride in that? Don't give credit to Modi. But we must hail our forces for their stunning achievement. [...] Experts were thinking if we should carry out the airstrikes some other day due to bad weather. However, I suggested that these clouds can provide us much needed cover.

On during an interview at ', as quoted in PM on News Nation: Why Modi planned Balakot airstrike on February 26, 12 May 2019, Nabanita Chakorborty (ed.), ' , 2019

I want to assure the people that Gujarat shall not tolerate any such accident. The s will get full punishment for their sins. Not only this, we will set an example, that nobody not even in his dream, thinks of committing a heinous crime like this.

Cited in: Caroline Sweetman (2005) Gender, Peacebuilding, and Reconstruction. p. 94 , 2002

I did not become the Chief Minister of [Gujarat] on 7th October 2001. I have always been a 'C.M.', I am a C.M. today and will remain a C.M. tomorrow because by 'C.M.' I mean common man or Aam Aadmi.

Narendra Modi (2001), cited in Kumar Pankaj (2014) Namo Mantra of Narendra Modi. Chapter "Narendra Modi—A Common Man". , 2001

I am constantly trying to find solutions to the problems of the nation. However, our opponents are engrossed in finding a solution to Modi. This mentality can never benefit the nation[.]

Rally in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, quoted by First Post, "Modi welcomes Paswan to NDA: 'National Development Alliance'" (3 March 2014). , 2014

They can call me 'Neech'- Yes, I am from the poor section of society and will spend every moment of my life to work for the poor, Dalits, Tribals and OBC communities. They can keep their language, we will do our work.

PM Modi speech in Surat. (2017) Quoted in , 2017

Timeline

The story of Narendra Modi, told in moments.

1975 Life

Indira Gandhi declares a state of emergency. The RSS is banned. Modi goes underground. Travels in disguise. Once as a monk, once as a Sikh. Prints and distributes anti-government pamphlets. Arranges safe houses. He is 25.

Underground during the Emergency. Disguised as a monk, then a Sikh. Were those the most dangerous years? Printing anti-government pamphlets at 25. Was that ideology or adventure?

2001 Event

Sworn in as Chief Minister of Gujarat, replacing the ailing Keshubhai Patel. He'd refused the deputy position. "Fully responsible for Gujarat or not at all." Five months later, the 2002 riots consume his state and define his political identity for decades.

Fully responsible for Gujarat or not at all. Was that confidence or ultimatum? The 2002 riots defined your political identity. Do you accept that framing?

2005 Life

The US State Department bars him from entering the United States under the International Religious Freedom Act. He's the only person ever denied a visa under this law. The UK and EU ban him too. All three bans get lifted after he becomes prime minister.

The only person ever denied a US visa under religious freedom law. Did that humiliate you? All three bans lifted after you became PM. Does that prove power rewrites everything?

2014 Event

Leads the BJP to a parliamentary majority in the general election. First single-party majority since 1984. Becomes Prime Minister of India. The man who couldn't get a US visa gets invited to Washington.

First single-party majority since 1984. Did you sense the scale of the mandate? From banned to invited to Washington. Is that vindication?

2019 Event

Wins reelection with a larger majority. His government revokes the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, passes the Citizenship Amendment Act, and deploys internet shutdowns across the region. Critics call it democratic backsliding. His approval ratings don't budge.

Internet shutdowns and Kashmir s special status revoked. Is that democratic governance? Critics call it backsliding, your approval doesn t budge. Which side is right?