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Opinion | Will Modi unleash India’s economic potential or destroy its future with sectarian strife?

  • There are hopes that Modi will create much-needed jobs and propel economic growth but also fears that he will inflame religious differences and worsen ties with nuclear-armed neighbour Pakistan

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes a dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers during the Hindu Kumbh festival in February. Modi, a masterful political performer, won a landslide victory at the recent general elections. Photo: AP
As a striking symbol of the changing politics of India, Rahul Gandhi, scion of the once ruling Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and his Congress party earned a drubbing in the recent general elections. In contrast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party confounded critics and crushed the opposition in sweeping back to power.
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Modi and the BJP are so predominant and the opposition so weak that most commentators predict they will win the next elections due in 2024. Their triumphant return raises difficult questions: What will they do with their power? Will they be able to unleash India’s immense economic potential? Will they continue to undermine – or abolish – the secularism that has been the basic principle of India since independence?
When a suicide bomber killed 40 Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir during the election campaign, Modi had no hesitation in ordering an air strike on Pakistan, boldly ignoring fears of war between the nuclear-armed neighbours, and playing to his Hindu base.
But his victory was not merely about Pakistan or about Hinduism. In his first term, Modi did more than his critics give him credit for. He launched a badly-needed road-building and infrastructure programme, simplified India’s arcane maze of taxes with a goods and service tax, tried to combat corruption, and helped push economic growth to 7 per cent.

After voting finished but before the results, Modi retired to a mountain cave to meditate, emphasising his credentials as ascetic and incorruptible. “I bow to the 1.3 billion people of India,” he said in his victory speech. “If someone is victorious, it is India. If someone is victorious, it is democracy. If someone is victorious, it is the electorate.” He promised to build a “strong and inclusive India”.

His supporters say India now has the strong man that many commentators, economists and business leaders have long wished for, someone who will get things done and unleash India’s potential. But that is easier said than achieved.
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